INTERSPECIES PROTOPLAST FUSION PROCESS OF Dunaliella salina AND Chlorella vulgaris TO PRODUCE RICH CAROTENOID NATURAL FOOD SUPPLEMENT FOR Penaeus monodon fab. LARVAE

Abstract

Natural pigment carotenoids from Dunaliella salina and Chlorella vulgaris was -karoten and zeaxanthin. Crustaceans can not synthetize carotenoid de novo and they need it to provide nutrition and possibly disease resistance, pigmentation and esthetic value. Green microalgae produce carotenoids and can be manipulated easily by protoplast fusion. The research was conducted to obtain some recombinants from interspesies protoplast fusion of D. salina and C. vulgaris. Interspecies protoplas fusion was carried out by protoplast isolation, protoplast fusion and protoplast regeneration. Microscopic and cell analysis will used to confirm positive regenerate protoplast. Analysis of the obtained fusants is limited to morphological description due to the complexity and variability of fusant. The stabilities of fusants obtained were examined by successive subcultures. The result revealed that conversion of the cells of to protoplasts was about 80% . The fusant maintain their stability during three periods of subculturing. This result suggesting the potency of fusant to be used as food supplement in liquid form. The regeneration of the protoplast was almost 100% with some of them having diploids formation. Most colonies of the recombinant having faster growth suggesting the positive result of potential strain. Keywords : carotenoid, protoplat fusion, Dunaliella, Chlorella,