Method for culturing photosynthetic microalgae

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for culturing photosynthetic microalgae with which xanthophyll can be obtained more efficiently than before. The culture method of the present invention comprises a step of performing light irradiation of encysted photosynthetic microalgae containing xanthophyll in an amount of 3 to 9% by mass in terms of a dry mass. Preferably, in the step of performing light irradiation, the xanthophyll content in photosynthetic microalgae is kept at 2% by mass or more in terms of a dry mass. Preferably, the step of performing light irradiation includes step (A) of increasing the number of cells in which light irradiation (a) is performed; and step (B) of increasing the xanthophyll content in photosynthetic microalgae in which light irradiation (b) of the photosynthetic microalgae subjected to the step (A) of increasing the number of cells is performed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.