Cell wall and organelle modifications during nitrogen starvation in Nannochloropsis oceanica F&M-M24

AbstractNannochloropsis oceanica F&M-M24 is able to increase its lipid content during nitrogen starvation to more than 50% of the total biomass. We investigated the ultrastructural changes and the variation in the content of main cell biomolecules that accompany the final phase of lipid accumulation. Nitrogen starvation induced a first phase of thylakoid disruption followed by chloroplast macroautophagy and formation of lipid droplets. During this phase, the total amount of proteins decreased by one-third, while carbohydrates decreased by 12–13%, suggesting that lipid droplets were formed by remodelling of chloroplast membranes and synthesis of fatty acids from carbohydrates and amino acids. The change in mitochondrial ultrastructure suggests also that these organelles were involved in the process. The cell wall increased its thickness and changed its structure during starvation, indicating that a disruption process could be partially affected by the increase in wall thickness for biomolecules recovery from starved cells. The wall thickness in strain F&M-M24 was much lower than that observed in other strains of N. oceanica, showing a possible advantage of this strain for the purpose of biomolecules extraction. The modifications following starvation were interpreted as a response to reduction of availability of a key nutrient (nitrogen). The result is a prolonged survival in quiescence until an improvement of the environmental conditions (nutrient availability) allows the rebuilding of the photosynthetic apparatus and the full recovery of cell functions

Energy balance of algal biomass production in a 1-ha "Green Wall Panel" plant: How to produce algal biomass in a closed reactor achieving a high Net Energy Ratio

AbstractThe annual productivity of Tetraselmis suecica in a 1-ha Green Wall Panel-II (GWP-II) plant in Tuscany (Italy) is 36t (dry weight)ha−1year−1, which corresponds to an energy output of 799GJha−1year−1. The energy inputs necessary to attain that productivity amount to 1362GJha−1year−1, mainly given by the embodied energy of the reactor (about 30%), mixing (about 40%), fertilizers (11%) and harvesting (10%). The Net Energy Ratio (NER) of T. suecica production is thus 0.6. In a more suitable location (North Africa) productivity nearly doubles, reaching 66tha−1year−1, but the NER increases only by 40% and the gain (difference between output and inputs) remains negative. In a GWP-II integrated with photovoltaics (PV), the NER becomes 1.7 and the gain surpasses 600GJha−1year−1. Marine microalgae cultivation in a GWP plant, in a suitable location, can attain high biomass productivities and protein yields 30times higher than those achievable with traditional crops (soya). When the GWP reactor is integrated with PV, the process attains a positive energy balance, which substantially enhances its sustainability

Effect of temperature on growth, photosynthesis and biochemical composition of Nannochloropsis oceanica, grown outdoors in tubular photobioreactors

Since temperature is an important factor affecting microalgal growth, photosynthetic rate and biomass composition, this study has accordingly focused on its effects on biomass yield and nighttime biomass loss, as well as photochemical changes, using Nannochloropsis oceanica as model species, grown in two outdoor 50-L tubular photobioreactors (PBR). In two independent trials, cultures were subjected to a diurnal light:dark cycle, under a constant temperature of 28 degrees C and, on the second trial, at 18 degrees C. Changes in culture performance were assessed by measuring growth, lipid and fatty acid composition of the biomass in both morning and evening. Our results revealed that N. oceanica shows a wide temperature tolerance with relevant nighttime biomass loss, that decreased at lower temperatures, at the expenses of its daily productivity. Fluorescence measurements revealed reversible damage to photosystem II in cells growing in the PBR under optimal thermal conditions, whereas microalgae grown at suboptimal ones exhibited an overall lower photosynthetic activity. Lipids were partially consumed overnight to support cell division and provide maintenance energy. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) catabolism reached a maximum after the dark period, as opposed to their saturated counterparts; whereas lower temperatures led to higher EPA content which reached the maximum in the morning. These findings are relevant for the production of Nannochloropsis at industrial scale.European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action: European network for algal-bio-products (EUALGAE) [ES1408]Portuguese national funds from the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) [SFRH/BD/129952/2017]Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy -LEPABE -by the FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) [UIDB/00511/2020]project: "LEPABE-2-ECO-INNOVATION" - North Portugal Regional Operational Program (NORTE 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) [NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000005]project: "DINOSSAUR" - ERDF through Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalizacao (COMPETE2020) [PTDC/BBB-EBB/1374/2014-POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016640]project: "SABANA"- European Union [727874][UID/Multi/04326/2019]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effects of blue, orange and white lights on growth, chlorophyll fluorescence, and phycocyanin production of Arthrospira platensis cultures

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different light colors on growth, pigment composition, and photosynthetic performance of Arthrospira platensis. Results showed that under orange light the biomass productivity increased due to the capability of A. platensis to fully absorb this portion of the light spectrum. Under blue light, phycocyanin increased continuously up to 13.2% ± 1.96 of dry weight at day 5, while under orange and white lights the phycocyanin content resulted lower, 7.1 ± 0.39 and 6.7% ± 1.58 of dry weight, respectively. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements showed the maximum electron transport rate (rETRmax) in cells grown under orange light. The results of this study indicated that the orange light increased both growth and phycocyanin productivities, while blue light increased mostly the phycocyanin content, while biomass productivity was much lower. Further increase of phycocyanin content was observed shifting the light illuminating the cultures from orange to blue, attaining a raise in phycocyanin content from 8.6% to 12.5% of dry weight within 48 h from the start of the illumination with blue light. Within the same period of time no growth was observed indicating that the synthesis of phycocyanin can be decoupled from growth. This study provides useful physiological information regarding the effects of different light spectra on growth, phycocyanin, and photosynthetic performance, as a prerequisite to optimize the production of high value pigments from cultures of A. platensis

Chemical composition and apparent digestibility of a panel of dried microalgae and cyanobacteria biomasses in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Despite a growing interest in microalgae and cyanobacteria as potential sources of nutrients in aquafeeds, little information is presently available on their nutritive value for carnivorous fish species. The aim of this study was to evaluate chemical composition and nutrient digestibility of a panel of microalgae and cyanobacteria dried biomasses (MACB), using rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss W.) as a fish model. Nine test diets were obtained by mixing 80 parts of a reference diet, added with 20 g/kg of acid insoluble ash as an indigestible marker, to 20 parts of each of the following dried whole-cell biomass: Arthrospira platensis, Nostoc sphaeroides, two strains of Chlorella sorokiniana, Nannochloropsis oceanica, Tisochrysis lutea, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Porphyridium purpureum and Tetraselmis suecica. The digestibility measurements were conducted with rainbow trout (52.4 \ub1 1.5 g) kept in six tank units each including three 60-L vessels singularly stocked with 12 fish and fitted with a settling column for faecal recovery. Per each diet, faeces were collected over three independent 10-day periods. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of dry matter, crude protein (CP), organic matter and gross energy (GE) of single MACB were calculated by difference relative to those of the reference diet. The MACBs had heterogeneous chemical composition (CP, from 20 to 69%; Lipid, 5\u201327%; GE, 12.5-\u201322.6 MJ/kg dry matter basis) reflecting their overall biodiversity. Most of them can be considered as virtually good sources of minerals and trace elements and exhibit an essential amino acid profile comparable or even better than that of soybean meal commonly used in fish feeds with P. purpureum showing the best protein profile. The digestibility results obtained with rainbow trout allowed ranking the MACBs into two major groups. A first one, including C. sorokiniana, N. oceanica and T. suecica, resulted in markedly lower (P < 0.05) crude protein and energy ADC (64\u201373%; 51\u201359%, respectively) compared to a second group including P. purpureum, T. lutea and cyanobacteria (CP-ADC, 83\u201388%; GE-ADC, 74\u201390%) while P. tricornutum resulted in intermediate values. Overall, the present study confirms the consistently reported role of cell-wall structure/composition in affecting accessibility of nutrients to digestive enzyme. Based on the overall outcomes, only T. lutea and cyanobacteria actually meet the requirements for being used as protein sources in aquafeeds provided their mass production becomes more feasible and costeffective, hence attractive for the feed-mill industry in the near future

Microalgae biomass as an alternative ingredient in cookies: sensory, physical and chemical properties, antioxidant activity and in vitro digestibility

Microalgae can be regarded as an alternative and promising food ingredient due to their nutritional composition, richness in bioactive compounds, and because they are considered a sustainable protein source for the future. The aim of this work was to evaluate microalgae (Arthrospira platensis F & M-C256, Chlorella vulgaris Allma, Tetraselmis suecica F & M-M33 and Phaeodactylum tricornutum F & M-M40) as innovative ingredients to enhance functional properties of cookies. Two biomass levels were tested and compared to control: 2% (w/w) and 6% (w/ w), to provide high levels of algae-bioactives. The cookies sensory and physical properties were evaluated during eight weeks showing high color and texture stability. Cookies prepared with A. platensis and C. vulgaris presented significantly (p < 0.05) higher protein content compared to the control, and by sensory analysis A. platensis cookies were preferred. Besides, A. platensis also provided a structuring effect in terms of cookies texture. All microalgae-based cookies showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) total phenolic content and in vitro antioxidant capacity compared to the control. No significant difference (p < 0.05) in in vitro digestibility between microalgae cookies and the control was foundinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

TFA and EPA Productivities of Nannochloropsis salina Influenced by Temperature and Nitrate Stimuli in Turbidostatic Controlled Experiments

The influence of different nitrate concentrations in combination with three cultivation temperatures on the total fatty acids (TFA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content of Nannochloropsis salina was investigated. This was done by virtue of turbidostatic controlled cultures. This control mode enables the cultivation of microalgae under defined conditions and, therefore, the influence of single parameters on the fatty acid synthesis of Nannochloropsis salina can be investigated. Generally, growth rates decreased under low nitrate concentrations. This effect was reinforced when cells were exposed to lower temperatures (from 26 °C down to 17 °C). Considering the cellular TFA concentration, nitrate provoked an increase of TFA under nitrate limitation up to 70% of the biological dry mass (BDM). In contrast to this finding, the EPA content decreased under low nitrate concentrations. Nevertheless, both TFA and EPA contents increased under a low culture temperature (17 °C) compared to moderate temperatures of 21 °C and 26 °C. In terms of biotechnological production, the growth rate has to be taken into account. Therefore, for both TFA and EPA production, a temperature of 17 °C and a nitrate concentration of 1800 μmol L−1 afforded the highest productivities. Temperatures of 21 °C and 26 °C in combination with 1800 μmol L−1 nitrate showed slightly lower TFA and EPA productivities