Effect of Iron Concentration on the Co-Production of Fucoxanthin and Fatty Acids in Conticribra weissflogii .

The production of fucoxanthin and fatty acids in Conticribra weissflogii has been examined, but there is still a lack of understanding regarding the impact of trace elements, including iron, on their co-production. To address this knowledge gap, this study investigated the effects of FeCl 3 ·6H 2 O on the growth, fucoxanthin, and fatty acids of C. weissflogii . The findings revealed that the highest cell density (1.9 × 10 6 cells mL -1 ), cell dry weight (0.89 ± 0.15 g L -1 ), and total fatty acid concentration (83,318.13 µg g -1 ) were achieved at an iron concentration of 15.75 mg L -1 , while the maximum carotenoid and fucoxanthin contents were obtained at an iron concentration of 3.15 mg L -1 . The study demonstrated that the content of the active substance in C. weissflogii could be increased by adjusting the iron concentration, providing new information as to the more efficient co-production of fucoxanthin and fatty acids and offering experimental support for large-scale production.