The effect of cold storage on cell viability and composition of two benthic diatoms

The effect of cold storage on the viability and composition of the diatoms Navicula incerta and Amphiprora paludosa var. hyalina was evaluated at weekly intervals during 4 weeks, using 8-day-old cultures grown under standards conditions, concentrated and stored at 4 °C in glass flask covered with aluminum foil. There were no differences between the cell viability measured as growth rates of aliquots of the refrigerated cultures, in comparison to that measured before cold storage. Significant differences were found only in the total and organic dry weights and in the lipid content of both species. After 3 and 4 weeks, showing that N. incerta and A. paludosa var. hyalina may be maintained under refrigeration for up to 4 weeks, without losing cell viability and nutritional quality.