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Effect of nitrogen limitation on growth, biochemical composition, and cell ultrastructure of the microalga Picocystis salinarum

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Abstract

In recent years biodiesel production has attracted worldwide attention due to the awareness of fossil fuel depletion and microalgae biomass is considered a promising raw material for its formulation. The present study evaluated the effects of different levels of nitrogen limitation (37.5, 18.75, 9.375 mg L−1 NaNO3) on the growth, cell ultrastructure, and biochemical composition of a halophilic native strain of the green alga Picocystis salinarum as a potential raw material source for biodiesel. During a culture period of 20 days, growth measurements and photosynthetic pigments were estimated. Cell density, dry weight, and chlorophylls a, b content decreased with time as nitrogen limitation increase; however, carotenoid content increased. In addition, nitrogen limitation caused an progressive increase in the lipid and carbohydrate yield and a decrease in protein. The high N limitation (9.375 mg L−1) had a significant effect on the accumulation of total lipid content (33.87% dry weight). Carbohydrate content (30.98% dry weight) and protein content (1.89% dry weight) decrease. The lipid content showed a differential FAME profile with high saturated fatty acid values (996.08 μg g−1 dry weight) mainly palmitic acid, compare with the unsaturated ones that showed low values under high N limitation. The gradual increase of lipid content was also corroborated by transmission electron microscopy images with a single large lipid droplet cell formation. Therefore, evaluation of the algal culture conditions such as N limitation, as a strategy to maximize lipid content and improve the fatty acid profile in unexplored strain of P. salinarum, showed a potential biomass yield as a suitable candidate for biodiesel production.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

DW:

Dry weight

FAME:

Fatty acid methyl ester

HPLC:

High-performance liquid chromatography

LD:

Lipid droplet

N:

Nitrogen

PCA:

Principal component analysis

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acid

SD:

Standard deviation

SFA:

Saturated fatty acid

TEM:

Transmission electron microscope

UFA:

Unsaturated fatty acid

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Acknowledgements

Ronald Tarazona Delgado benefited by a scholarship from CAPES, and this work is part of his MSc thesis. The authors would also like to thank technicians of the Laboratory of Cellular Ultrastructure Carlos Alberto Redins, Federal University of Espírito Santo, for its support in transmission electron microscopy.

Funding

This work was funded by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel – Brazil (CAPES), Finance Code 001.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, 29075-015, Brazil

    Ronald Tarazona Delgado, Mayara dos Santos Guarieiro & Valéria de Oliveira Fernandes

  2. Natural History Museum, National University of San Marcos, LIM 14-0434, Lima, Peru

    Ronald Tarazona Delgado & Haydee Montoya Terreros

  3. Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, 29075-910, Brazil

    Paulo Wagnner Antunes & Sérvio Túlio Cassini

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  1. Ronald Tarazona Delgado
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  2. Mayara dos Santos Guarieiro
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  3. Paulo Wagnner Antunes
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  4. Sérvio Túlio Cassini
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  6. Valéria de Oliveira Fernandes
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All authors made substantial contributions in conceptualizing, drafting, developing and reviewing the manuscript. The paper was reviewed and approved by all authors prior to submission for peer review.

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Correspondence to Ronald Tarazona Delgado.

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Tarazona Delgado, R., Guarieiro, M.d., Antunes, P.W. et al. Effect of nitrogen limitation on growth, biochemical composition, and cell ultrastructure of the microalga Picocystis salinarum. J Appl Phycol 33, 2083–2092 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-021-02462-8

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