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Carotenoids, encompassing a spectrum of yellow to brown pigments, are critical photosynthetic constituents that modulate light energy utilization through selective absorption and reflection of specific wavelengths. These molecules predominantly absorb within the blue-violet spectrum and reflect red wavelengths, functioning as accessory pigments by facilitating the transfer of absorbed light energy to chlorophyll for the conversion into chemical energy, and as photo protectors, mitigating damage from excessive light exposure. In the realm of microalgae, a diverse and polyphyletic group comprising both eukaryotic and prokaryotic photoautotrophs, carotenoids play pivotal roles. These organisms, ranging from unicellular to colonial forms, are foundational to aquatic ecosystems, requiring only light, water, carbon dioxide, and simple inorganic nutrients for sustenance. As primary producers, microalgae are instrumental in global carbon fixation, contributing significantly to oxygen production and CO2 sequestration, thereby acting as a crucial biological pump in the mitigation of carbon emissions.
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Dr. Alka Rajput, MPhil and PhD from Punjabi University Patiala, India, specialized in carotenoids from microalgae. Awarded Best Research Paper (2019) and a UGC-BSR Fellowship (2015-2020), she has published high-impact research, granted a patent, and authored a book. With expertise in microbial culture, isolation, and metabolite characterization.
