Microbial load in mass cultures of green algae Scenedesmus acutus and its processed powder.
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Date
1981-12
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Abstract
Microbial contamination in cultures of the alga, Scenedesmus acutus raised in
outdoor open tanks and also in the processed powder of the alga was monitored; The total
bacterial population increased with time during the growth period of six days. When a
combination of molasses and carbondioxide was employed as carbon source for this alga, the
bacterial load increased to 10 colony forming units/ml. Yeast, molds and also coliforms were
quantitated. Drum-drying the algae drastically reduced the bacterial load and storing the algal
powder for a period of over 3 months did not increase the bacterial load. Pathogens like
Salmonella and Staphylococcus were not detectable either in the open cultures or in the drumdried
algal powder. Although there are not set standards available in literature on the permissible
level of the microbial contamination in algal biomass for use in foods, the microbial load
appears to be within the limits of permissible levels stipulated by Indian Standard Institution
standards for baby foods.
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Keywords
Green alga, Scenedesmus acutus, microbial load, bacterial contaminants, processed powder
Citation
Mahadevaswamy M, Venkataraman L V. Microbial load in mass cultures of green algae Scenedesmus acutus and its processed powder. Journal of Biosciences. 1981 Dec; 3(4): 439-448.