Optimisation of land-based cultivation conditions and enhancement of antioxidant activity in Umbraulva sp. (Chlorophyta, Ulvaceae) /

This thesis is part of the 'Mak-Pak Scale-Up' project, funded by the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL, Förderkennzeichen 28-1-DL-02-B2-0). Aim of the project is to produce a sustainable, compostable and edible food packaging alternative to plastic on an industrial scale. The product is going to be made from green algae belonging to the Ulvaceae family that will be cultivated in land-based re-circulating aquaculture systems. Suitable species and cultivation conditions need to be identified in order to provide a high-quality product. This thesis intends to answer questions regarding the long-term cultivation conditions and the enhancement of antioxidant activity in Umbraulva sp. Both filtered natural seawater and re-used artificial seawater from a show-casing aquarium were identified as suitable cultivation media. The enhancement of antioxidant activity through the application of blue light was unsuccessful. No increased antioxidant activity was measured in the light quantity experiment either, although high light intensity treatment and high daily photo-dose treatments lead to an induction of light stress in Umbraulva sp. Follow-up research is necessary in order to identify exact nutrient compositions, stocking densities and light settings in order to cultivate Umbraulva sp. with the desired results in biomass production and antioxidant activity.Master of Science in Marine Biological Resources (IMBRSea)This thesis is part of the 'Mak-Pak Scale-Up' project, funded by the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL, Förderkennzeichen 28-1-DL-02-B2-0). Aim of the project is to produce a sustainable, compostable and edible food packaging alternative to plastic on an industrial scale. The product is going to be made from green algae belonging to the Ulvaceae family that will be cultivated in land-based re-circulating aquaculture systems. Suitable species and cultivation conditions need to be identified in order to provide a high-quality product. This thesis intends to answer questions regarding the long-term cultivation conditions and the enhancement of antioxidant activity in Umbraulva sp. Both filtered natural seawater and re-used artificial seawater from a show-casing aquarium were identified as suitable cultivation media. The enhancement of antioxidant activity through the application of blue light was unsuccessful. No increased antioxidant activity was measured in the light quantity experiment either, although high light intensity treatment and high daily photo-dose treatments lead to an induction of light stress in Umbraulva sp. Follow-up research is necessary in order to identify exact nutrient compositions, stocking densities and light settings in order to cultivate Umbraulva sp. with the desired results in biomass production and antioxidant activity