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A comprehensive comparable study of the physiological properties of four microalgal species under different light wavelength conditions

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Abstract

Main conclusion

Microalgae treated with blue light have potential for production of human nutrition supplement and biofuel due to their higher biomass productivity and favorable fatty acid composition.

Abstract

Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Scenedesmus quadricauda and Scenedesmus obliquus are representative green microalgae which are widely reported for algal production. In this study, we provide a systematic investigation of the biomass productivity, photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll fluorescence and fatty acid content of the four green microalgae. The strains were grown in two primary monochromatic light wavelengths [red and blue LEDs (light emitting diode)], and in white LED conditions, respectively. Among them, blue LED light was determined as the best light for growth rate, followed by red LED and white LED. The chlorophyll generation was more sensitive to the monochromatic blue light. The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as α-linolenic acid (18:3), which were perfect for human nutrition supplementation, showed high concentrations in these algae strains under blue LED. Collectively, the results indicate that the blue LED is suitable for various food, feed, and algal biofuel productions due to both biomass and fatty acid productivity.

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Abbreviations

ABS:

Absorption

ET0 :

Electron transport

DI0 :

Dissipation

RC:

Reaction center

TR0 :

Trapping

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Acknowledgements

This research was mainly funded by a Key Project of Shenzhen Emerging Industries (No. JC201104210118A) and partially supported by Public Science and Technology Research Funds Projects of Ocean (201305022).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment and Energy, Peking University-Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China

    Yu Zhong, Peng Jin & Jay J. Cheng

  2. Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

    Jay J. Cheng

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  1. Yu Zhong
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  2. Peng Jin
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  3. Jay J. Cheng
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Correspondence to Jay J. Cheng.

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Zhong, Y., Jin, P. & Cheng, J.J. A comprehensive comparable study of the physiological properties of four microalgal species under different light wavelength conditions. Planta 248, 489–498 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-018-2899-5

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