Cryopreservation of Marine Microalgae

Abstract

To surely and easily preserve the marine microalgae, cryopreservation was investigated. Nannochloropsis sp., Tetraselmis tetrathele, and Chaetoceros gracilis were preserved with or without cryoprotectants (10% glycerol and 5% dimethylsulfoxide) in a frozen condition at -20°C or -70°C.
Nannochloropsis sp. retained the ability to multiply preserving at -70°C for three years without the cryoprotectants. Tetraselmis tetrathele and Chaetoceros gracilis also retained their ability to multiply after preserving at -70°C for two years with the cryoprotectants.