Abstract
To enhance algal lipid and astaxanthin synthesis, the astaxanthin-producing green alga Haematococcus pluvialis was mix-cultivated with the antibiotic-synthesizing fungus Simplicillium lanosoniveum DT06 under non-aseptic conditions (NM) in this study. Results showed that in contrast to aseptic pure culture (AH) and non-aseptic pure culture (NH) of H. pluvialis , the production of cell (biomass), lipids and astaxanthin increased 56% and 119%, 112.4% and 279%, 74% and 175%, reaching 2.45 g/l, 0.837 g/l and 88.84 mg/l respectively; the average growth rate and the average specific growth rate increased 60.8% and 133.1 %, 19% and 31.6%, reaching 194.2 mg l -1 d -1 and 0.25 d -1 respectively; and the average lipid synthesis rate and average specific lipid synthesis rate increased 112.5% and 278.66%, 36.15% and 97%, reaching 69.75 mg l -1 d -1 and 28.47 mg g -1 d -1 respectively; and also the content of C16-C18 fatty acids that are suitable for biofuels production increased to 83.19%. Therefore, NM provides an efficient and economical way for the production of biofuels.