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Effect of nitrate on Ankistrodesmus fusiformis culture: evaluation of growth, biomolecules and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)

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Abstract

The aim was to test the effect of nitrate (NO3) supplementation and restriction on biomass production, synthesis of biomolecules and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in the microalga Ankistrodesmus fusiformis. The treatments contained BG-11 medium + different concentrations of NO3: 0.5 g (T0.5); 1.0 g (T1.0); 1.5 g (T1.5); BG-11 under NO3 limitation (TN) and control containing only BG-11 (TC). TN showed higher production of biomass (0.68 g L−1), µ (0.50 day−1) and proteins (11.16 µg mL−1). Carbohydrate content decreased with increasing NO3 concentration in the treatments. T1.5 had the highest lipid content (49.30 mg). The major fatty acids were C16:0; C18:3n3; C18:1n9c and C18:2n6c. Higher saturation was observed in treatments with lower concentrations of NO3 and TN, inverse behavior to the monounsaturated. The TN treatment showed high EPS production (30.90 mg L−1). Therefore, globally TN was the best treatment, due to its high biomass production, high EPS synthesis and relevant production of lipids and proteins, together with reduced use of nitrate.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to dedicate the paper to PhD Janice Izabel Druzian (In memoriam) at the College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia for all the teachings provided. Your legacy will be carried on—our eternal gratitude.

Funding

The authors thank the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development—CNPq (CNPq-313641/2019–6 and INCT MIDAS CNPq-465594/2014–0), and FAPESP—São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (2020/15688–1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Exact and Technological Sciences, Salvador University, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

    Lucas Guimarães Cardoso & Denilson de Jesus Assis

  2. Graduate Program in Chemical Engineering (PPEQ), Polytechnic School, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

    Lucas Guimarães Cardoso, Jânia Betânia Alves da Silva, Denilson de Jesus Assis & Natalia Santana Carvalho

  3. Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Bahia, Reitor Miguel Calmon, Canela, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

    Bianca Bomfim Andrade & Jamila Sueira de Jesus Silva

  4. Laboratory of Algae Biotechnology, Department of Botany, Federal University of São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil

    Jaqueline Carmo da Silva & Ana Teresa Lombardi

  5. Graduate Program in Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

    Carolina Oliveira de Souza

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  1. Lucas Guimarães Cardoso
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  2. Bianca Bomfim Andrade
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Contributions

Lucas Guimarães Cardoso: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Writing – original draft, Writing—review & editing. Bianca Bomfim Andrade: Formal analysis, Writing – original draft. Jamila Sueira de Jesus Silva: Formal analysis, Writing – original draft, Jânia Betânia Alves da Silva: Formal analysis, Writing – original draft. Denilson de Jesus Assis: Formal analysis, Writing – original draft. Natalia Santana Carvalho: Formal analysis, Writing – original draft. Jaqueline Carmo da Silva: Formal analysis. Carolina Oliveira de Souza: Project administration; Resources; Supervision, Funding acquisition. Ana Teresa Lombardi: Conceptualization, Project administration; Resources; Supervision, Funding acquisition.

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Correspondence to Lucas Guimarães Cardoso.

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Cardoso, L.G., Andrade, B.B., de Jesus Silva, J.S. et al. Effect of nitrate on Ankistrodesmus fusiformis culture: evaluation of growth, biomolecules and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). J Appl Phycol 35, 1037–1045 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-023-02964-7

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