Simultaneous effect of irradiance and temperature on biochemical composition of the microalga Pavlova lutheri

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2009

Authors

Carvalho, AP (Author) Other; Monteiro, CM (Author) Other; F. Xavier Malcata (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Applied Phycology

Vol. 21

Pages: 543-552

ISSN: 0921-8971

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 48 Citations

Scopus - 66 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-FDE

DOI: 10.1007/s10811-009-9415-z

Abstract (EN): The biochemical composition of microalgae can be modulated through the environmental conditions prevailing during growth. The simultaneous effects of irradiance and temperature on the biochemical composition of Pavlova lutheri were evaluated using an experimental star factorial design. Five levels were tested for each parameter ( temperature, 10, 14, 18, 22 and 26 degrees C; irradiance, 60, 105, 150, 195 and 240 mu mol photons m(-2) s(-1)), whereas the carbohydrate, protein, lipid, pigments and elementary compound contents were measured as response variables. Additionally, in order to rapidly measure parameters to define the status of the culture, the validation of the relationships between biochemical parameters and physiological status were estimated through regression analysis. It was observed that irradiance and temperature play a major role in the determination of the biochemical composition of microalgae. Their effects are synergistic, and it can be observed that a trend in behaviour at a certain temperature can be reversed at a different temperature; therefore, when selecting the environmental conditions to a culture they must be studied in a combined fashion. Although there are consistent relationships between pigment contents and elementary compounds in cells, its linearity is influenced by the irradiance of the culture and its age; therefore, they can only be applied in specific circumstances. On the other side, population biomass was well estimated in terms of carotenoid content, irrespective of the environmental conditions provided and the growth phase.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10