VIABILITY OF LYOPHILIZED ALGAE

Abstract

Numerous species of blue-green, green, and yellow-green algae, isolated from various habitats in Wisconsin and in the Antarctic, were tested for their ability to survive freeze-drying. Most of the species from the Antarctic survived, whereas many of the species from Wisconsin did not survive the lyophilization procedure. Addition of organic adjuvants to the algal suspensions resulted in greater survival for most of the green algae, but had little or no effect on survival of blue-green algae. Three different methods of drying frozen algal samples are described.