The effect of illumination on the pigment composition of the ?-carotenic mutant, PG1, of Scenedesmus obliquus

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Abstract
Dark grown Scenedesmus obliquus strain PG1 accumulated ζ-carotene and phytoene as its major carotenoids. On illumination of dark-grown cultures in air/CO2, cyclic carotenes and xanthophylls were formed, apparently at the expense of the accumulated phytoene and ζ-carotene. This interconversion of carotenoids was accompanied by chlorophyll synthesis. In an atmosphere of nitrogen/CO2 the light-induced changes occurred more slowly and in nitrogen alone the changes were incomplete. No massive production of cyclic carotenes from the accumulated ζ-carotene was observed in cultures illuminated under anaerobic conditions.