Effects of phosphorus-induced changes on the growth, nitrogen uptake, and biochemical composition of Pavlova pinguis and Hemiselmis cf. andersenii

TitleEffects of phosphorus-induced changes on the growth, nitrogen uptake, and biochemical composition of Pavlova pinguis and Hemiselmis cf. andersenii
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsFernandes T, Cordeiro N
JournalJournal of Applied Phycology
ISSN1573-5176
KeywordsRCC1539
Abstract

The understanding of the phosphorus-induced changes in the biochemical composition of microalgae is of great importance for achieving efficiency in high-value lipid production. To study the chemoplasticity of Pavlova pinguis (Haptophyceae) and Hemiselmis cf. andersenii (Cryptophyceae), their growth, carotenoid and chlorophyll a content, and their monosaccharide and lipid profiles were analyzed against several phosphorus (P) regimes: low (LP), medium (MP), and high (HP). For both microalgal cultures, increasing initial P concentrations showed a positive effect on biomass productivities. Carbon-rich pools presented significant differences (p< 0.05) for P. pinguis against P treatments, in contrast to H. cf. andersenii. Differential responses to P-induced changes in microalgae monosaccharide and lipid profile were observed. Hemiselmis cf. andersenii increased its proportion in galactose (up to 3 times) from LP to HP conditions, whereas P. pinguis decreased (up to 20%) its glucose proportion from LP to HP conditions. For P. pinguis, the lowest amount (13.12 mg g-1 dw) of sterols was observed at LP conditions, in contrast to its carotenoid content (4.32 mg g-1 dw). P-replete conditions were the most effective in inducing high-value lipid accumulation. Non-targeted lipid analysis revealed which samples would need to be processed to fully exploit its high-value lipids, namely H. cf andersenii under MP and HP conditions. This study demonstrated that P played an important role in carbon allocation, nitrogen uptake, and lipid regulation on P. pinguis and H. cf. andersenii, and that P-replete conditions could be useful for optimizing high-value lipids with potential for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical fields.

URLhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-021-02662-2
DOI10.1007/s10811-021-02662-2