DOLLY WATTAL DHARCHETHAN KUMAR, G.2017-06-052017-06-052014http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810017925t-8961Haematococcus (Chlorophyta) is widely distributed unicellular green alga which synthesizes and accumulates high level of astaxanthin in nature. Its natural habitats include small, often temporary, continental and coastal rock pools, water holes and other small natural or artificial water habitats. It has been reported world-wide, and in India its occurrence has been reported in Palampur, a town in Himachal Pradesh situated at 32°N latitude 76°E longitude and 1300m above sea level with annual temperature of 19°C and annual rainfall of 250 cm and above. In this paper we report new isolates of Haematococcus from water bodies of Palampur and evaluation of their growth characteristics, photosynthetic pigment levels and astaxanthin content. The strains named as CCCH1 and CCCH2 showed mean chlorophyll of 13.53 and 12.28 μg/mg dry biomass, respectively in their green stage (14th day of incubation). The total carotenoids differed as 41.89 and 29.63 μg/mg dry biomass on 28th day of incubation. On the other hand, astaxanthin content was 39.26 and 34.54 μg/mg dry biomass in cyst stage. 18S rDNA gene amplification and further sequencing authenticated the identification of new isolates as Haematococcus with 100 percent homology with H. pluvialis.enPRODUCTION POTENTIAL ASTAXANTHIN Haematococcus pluvialiThesis