Possibilities of using 5‐Fluoro‐2'‐deoxyuridine in controlling rotifer contamination in cultivation of Spirulina platensis

Abstract

To develop an effective technique for decreasing rotifer contamination in Spirulina platensis cultivation, the effects of 5‐fluoro‐2'‐deoxyuridine (FUdR; 0, 60, 110, 160, 210, and 260 μg/L) on the development, reproduction and population growth of the rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis and on the growth, photosynthetic properties and nutritional composition of S. platensis were investigated. The results showed that the negative effects of FUdR on the pre‐reproductive period, the number of total eggs per female and the egg hatching rate of rotifers were dose‐dependent. The egg hatching of rotifers was fully inhibited by exposure to 260 μg/L FUdR. The effects of FUdR on the biomass, maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm), effective quantum yield (φPSII), amino acid content and fatty acid composition of S. platensis were not significant. Therefore, these results suggest that FUdR has excellent potential for controlling grazing zooplankton contamination in microalgal cultivation.