Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Investigating the growth rate of Dunaliella tertiolecta in the optimum N:P ratio in mono and mixed cultures

  • Research
  • Published:
Journal of Applied Phycology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A Correction to this article was published on 04 August 2023

This article has been updated

Abstract

Microalgae have various industrial applications; therefore optimizing their growth conditions is very important. Different ratios of nitrogen to phosphorus as well as the type of used culture medium affect the growth of different species which can determine the dominance of one species over other species. The purpose of this study is to determine the optimum ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus on the growth rate of Dunaliella tertiolecta and to investigate the growth rate and biomass production of these microalgae in mixed culture of several species of algae in this ratio. First, the effect of different weight ratios of nitrogen to phosphorus in different concentrations on the growth rate, biomass production, chemical compounds, and fatty acid profile of microalgae were investigated by using chemical, separation and spectrophotometry methods in 10 different treatments. Then the growth rates of microalga and biomass production were explored in the determined optimum ratio in the medium of mixed culture including D. tertiolecta, Nannochloropsis oculata, Chlorella and Tetraselmis. The results indicated that the weight ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus at 45:1 and threefold the standard culture medium concentration is the optimum ratio for the growth of D. tertiolecta. At this ratio, either biomass production was more than other ratios, or the growth rate of D. tertiolecta dominates the growth of other species.

Graphical abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary information files.

Change history

References

  • Ammar EE, Aioub AA, Elesawy AE, Karkour AM, Mouhamed MS, Amer AA, El-Shershaby NA (2022) Algae as bio-fertilizers: Between current situation and future prospective. Saudi J Biol Sci 29:3083–3096

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Horwitz W (ed) (2005) Official methods of analysis, 18th Edition. AOAC International, Maryland

  • Chou H-H, Su H-Y, Song X-D, Chow T-J, Chen C-Y, Chang J-S, Lee T-M (2019) Isolation and characterization of Chlorella sp. mutants with enhanced thermo-and CO2 tolerances for CO2 sequestration and utilization of flue gases. Biotechnol Biofuels 12(1):251

  • Chowdury KH, Nahar N, Deb UK (2020) The growth factors involved in microalgae cultivation for biofuel production: a review. Comput Water Energy Environ Eng 9:185–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clément G, George Z, David B (2021) Influence of different abiotic factors on lipid production by microalgae–a review. Oils Crops Lipids 28:57

    Google Scholar 

  • Dittami SM, Heesch S, Olsen JL, Collén J (2017) Transitions between marine and freshwater environments provide new clues about the origins of multicellular plants and algae. J Phycol 53:731–745

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fallahi A, Hajinajaf N, Tavakoli O, Sarrafzadeh M-H (2020) Cultivation of mixed microalgae using municipal wastewater: biomass productivity, nutrient removal, and biochemical content. Iran J Biotech 18:88–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Figler A, Márton K, B-Béres V, Bacsi I (2021) Effects of nutrient content and nitrogen to phosphorous ratio on the growth, nutrient removal and desalination properties of the green alga Coelastrum morus on a laboratory scale. Energies 14:2112

  • Griffiths MJ, van Hille RP, Harrison ST (2012) Lipid productivity, settling potential and fatty acid profile of 11 microalgal species grown under nitrogen replete and limited conditions. J Appl Phycol 24:989–1001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guillard RRL (1975) Culture of phytoplankton for feeding marine invertebrates. In: Smith WL, Chanley MH (eds) Culture of marine invertebrate animals. Plenum Press, New York, pp 29–60

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hedge J, Hofreiter B (1962) Carbohydrate chemistry. Determination of reducing sugars and carbohydrates. In: Whistler RL, Wolfrom ML (eds) Methods in Carbohydrate Chemistry. Academic Press, New York, pp 380–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Hibberd D (1981) Notes on the taxonomy and nomenclature of the algal classes Eustigmatophyceae and Tribophyceae (synonym Xanthophyceae). Bot J Linn Soc 82:93–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hidayati P, Mubarak A (2020) The optimal N/P ratio of shrimp culture waste liquid fertilizer on growth of Chlorella vulgaris. IOP Conf Ser: Earth Environ Sci 441:012090

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ho S-H, Chen W-M, Chang J-S (2010) Scenedesmus obliquus CNW-N as a potential candidate for CO2 mitigation and biodiesel production. Bioresour Technol 101:8725–8730

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoa NV, Nhi DT (2020) Determination of an appropriate ratio of N:P for optimisation of algal development in fertilizer ponds. Aquacult Aquar Conserv Legis 13:3727–3742

  • Hossain N, Zaini J, Mahlia T, Azad AK (2019) Elemental, morphological and thermal analysis of mixed microalgae species from drain water. Renew Energy 131:617–624

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang Y, Lou C, Luo L, Wang XC (2021) Insight into nitrogen and phosphorus coupling effects on mixotrophic Chlorella vulgaris growth under stably controlled nutrient conditions. Sci Total Environ 752:141747

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karlson B, Potter D, Kuylenstierna M, Andersen R (1996) Ultrastructure, pigment composition, and 18S rRNA gene sequence for Nannochloropsis granulata sp. nov.(Monodopsidaceae, Eustigmatophyceae), a marine ultraplankter isolated from the Skagerrak, northeast Atlantic Ocean. Phycologia 35:253–260

  • Khairy HM, Hussein N (2009) Changes in some metabolic activities of the green algae Tetraselmis chuii (Butcher) as affected by different concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in the medium. Egypt J Exp Biol 5:67–73

  • Kumar A, Guria C, Pathak AK (2017) Potential CO2 fixation and optimal Dunaliella tertiolecta cultivation: Influence of fertilizer, wavelength of light-emitting diodes, salinity and carbon supply strategy. J CO2 Util 22:164–177

  • Kumar BR, Deviram G, Mathimani T, Duc PA, Pugazhendhi A (2019) Microalgae as rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Biocatal Ag Biotech 17:583–588

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kusmayadi A, Leong YK, Yen H-W, Huang C-Y, Chang J-S (2021) Microalgae as sustainable food and feed sources for animals and humans–biotechnological and environmental aspects. Chemosphere 271:129800

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee S-H, Ahn C-Y, Jo B-H, Lee S-A, Park J-Y, An K-G, Oh H-M (2013) Increased microalgae growth and nutrient removal using balanced N: P ratio in wastewater. J Microbiol Biotechnol 23:92–98

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li M, Li Y, Zhang Y, Xu Q, Iqbal MS, Xi Y, Xiang X (2022) The significance of phosphorus in algae growth and the subsequent ecological response of consumers. J Freshw Ecol 37:57–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Horsman M, Wang B, Wu N, Lan CQ (2008) Effects of nitrogen sources on cell growth and lipid accumulation of green alga Neochloris oleoabundans. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 81:629–636

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lichtenthaler HK, Wellburn AR (1983) Determination of total carotenoids and chlorophylls a and b of leaf extracts in different solvents. Biochem Soc Trans 603:591–592

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu C, Shi X, Fan F, Wu F, Lei J (2019) N: P ratio influences the competition of Microcystis with its picophytoplankton counterparts, Mychonastes and Synechococcus, under nutrient enrichment conditions. J Freshw Ecol 34:445–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manisali AY, Sunol AK, Philippidis GP (2019) Effect of macronutrients on phospholipid production by the microalga Nannochloropsis oculata in a photobioreactor. Algal Res 41:101514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez KA, Saide A, Crespo G, Martín J, Romano G, Reyes F, Lauritano C, Ianora A (2022) Promising antiproliferative compound from the green microalga Dunaliella tertiolecta against human cancer cells. Front Mar Sci 9:778108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayers JJ, Flynn KJ, Shields RJ (2014) Influence of the N: P supply ratio on biomass productivity and time-resolved changes in elemental and bulk biochemical composition of Nannochloropsis sp. Bioresour Technol 169:588–595

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miquel M, Browse J (1992) Arabidopsis mutants deficient in polyunsaturated fatty acid synthesis. Biochemical and genetic characterization of a plant oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine desaturase. J Biol Chem 267:1502–1509

  • Mohebbi F, Mohsenpour Azari A, Ahmadi R, Seidgar M, Mostafazadeh B, Ganji S (2015) The Effects of Dunaliella tertiolecta, Tetraselmis suecica and Nannochloropsis oculata as food on the growth, survival and reproductive characteristics of Artemia urmiana. Environ Resour Res 3:111–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Molina E, Martínez E, Sańchez S, García F, Contreras A (1991) The influence of temperature and the initial N: P ratio on the growth of microalgae Tetraselmis sp. Process Biochem 26:183–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morales M, Aflalo C, Bernard O (2021) Microalgal lipids: A review of lipids potential and quantification for 95 phytoplankton species. Biomass Bioenergy 150:106108

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Napiórkowska-Krzebietke A (2017) Phytoplankton as a basic nutritional source in diets of fish. J Elementol 22:831–841

    Google Scholar 

  • Ördög V, Stirk WA, Bálint P, van Staden J, Lovász C (2012) Changes in lipid, protein and pigment concentrations in nitrogen-stressed Chlorella minutissima cultures. J Appl Phycol 24:907–914

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pancha I, Chokshi K, George B, Ghosh T, Paliwal C, Maurya R, Mishra S (2014) Nitrogen stress triggered biochemical and morphological changes in the microalgae Scenedesmus sp. CCNM 1077. Bioresour Technol 156:146–154

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar S, Manna MS, Bhowmick TK, Gayen K (2020) Extraction of chlorophylls and carotenoids from dry and wet biomass of isolated Chlorella thermophila: Optimization of process parameters and modelling by artificial neural network. Process Biochem 96:58–72

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharoni S, Halevy I (2022) Geologic controls on phytoplankton elemental composition. Proc Nat Acad Sci 119:e2113263118

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simopoulos AP (2002) The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids. Biomed Pharmacother 56:365–379

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Slocombe SP, Ross M, Thomas N, McNeill S, Stanley MS (2013) A rapid and general method for measurement of protein in micro-algal biomass. Bioresour Technol 129:51–57

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Song D, Xi B, Sun J (2016) Characterization of the growth, chlorophyll content and lipid accumulation in a marine microalgae Dunaliella tertiolecta under different nitrogen to phosphorus ratios. J Ocean Univ China 15:124–130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stein JR (ed) (1973) Handbook of Phycological Methods. Culture Methods and Growth Measurements. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

  • Stirk WA, Bálint P, Maróti G, Varga Z, Lantos Z, van Staden J, Ördög V (2021) Comparison of monocultures and a mixed culture of three Chlorellaceae strains to optimize biomass production and biochemical content in microalgae grown in a greenhouse. J Appl Phycol 33:2755–2766

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stockenreiter M, Haupt F, Seppälä J, Tamminen T, Spilling K (2016) Nutrient uptake and lipid yield in diverse microalgal communities grown in wastewater. Algal Res 15:77–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang D, Han W, Li P, Miao X, Zhong J (2011) CO2 biofixation and fatty acid composition of Scenedesmus obliquus and Chlorella pyrenoidosa in response to different CO2 levels. Bioresour Technol 102:3071–3076

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tomas CR (2012) Marine phytoplankton: a guide to naked flagellates and coccolithophorids. Academic Press, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner DS, Cazzaniga C, Steidl M, Dechesne A, Valverde-Perez B, Plosz BG (2021) Optimal influent N-to-P ratio for stable microalgal cultivation in water treatment and nutrient recovery. Chemosphere 262:127939

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wu JS, Jia RB, Li B, Liu CC (2014) Study on the correlation of N, P nutrients and Chlorella growth. Appl Mech Mater 641–642:1183–1186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yaakob MA, Mohamed RMSR, Al-Gheethi A, Aswathnarayana Gokare R, Ambati RR (2021) Influence of nitrogen and phosphorus on microalgal growth, biomass, lipid, and fatty acid production: an overview. Cells 10:393

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Yap JK, Sankaran R, Chew KW, Munawaroh HSH, Ho S-H, Banu JR, Show PL (2021) Advancement of green technologies: A comprehensive review on the potential application of microalgae biomass. Chemosphere 281:130886

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zabochnicka M, Krzywonos M, Romanowska-Duda Z, Szufa S, Darkalt A, Mubashar M (2022) Algal biomass utilization toward circular economy. Life 12:1480

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Zarrinmehr MJ, Farhadian O, Heyrati FP, Keramat J, Koutra E, Kornaros M, Daneshvar E (2020) Effect of nitrogen concentration on the growth rate and biochemical composition of the microalga, Isochrysis galbana. Egypt J Aquat Res 46:153–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Roghayeh Jafarpour

  2. Section of Research and Development (R&D) of Aquatic Sourena Company (1561), Chabahar, Iran

    Saeid Vahdat

  3. Department of Life Science Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Fatemeh Asadi

  4. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran

    Hakime Karimi Dardashti & Abolfazl Dadkhah

  5. Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Barbad Zarei

Authors
  1. Roghayeh Jafarpour
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Saeid Vahdat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fatemeh Asadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hakime Karimi Dardashti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Barbad Zarei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Abolfazl Dadkhah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Roghayeh Jafarpour: Prepared figures and tables and wrote the manuscript.

Saeid Vahdat: Designed this study and methodology, prepared the microalgae sample, and performed statistical analysis.

Fatemeh Asadi: Conducted experiments in the laboratory and Collected information.

Hakime Karimi Dardashti: Conducted experiments in the laboratory and Collected information.

Barbad Zarei: Participated in statistical analysis.

Abolfazl Dadkhah*: Supervisor of the study. Approved the laboratory results and edited the manuscript.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

All authors declare there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

The original online version of this article was revised: author name Barbad Zarei was incorrectly written as Barbod Zarei.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 15 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jafarpour, R., Vahdat, S., Asadi, F. et al. Investigating the growth rate of Dunaliella tertiolecta in the optimum N:P ratio in mono and mixed cultures. J Appl Phycol 35, 1553–1563 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-023-02971-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-023-02971-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation