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Seaweed-based biostimulant improves photosynthesis and effectively enhances growth and biofuel potential of a green microalga Chlorella variabilis

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Abstract

The main aim of the present study was to determine the effects of a seaweed-based biostimulant’s supplementation on the growth of Chlorella variabilis. A liquid extract from Kappaphycus alvarezii (K-sap) was prepared and supplemented in the growth medium from 0.2 to 5% concentrations. The supplementation of K-sap increased the growth and photosynthetic performance of C. variabilis. Addition of 0.4% K-sap increased the biomass production by about 59% compared to the control culture. The highest lipid and neutral lipid productivities were observed in 0.6% K-sap-supplemented culture, which were around 50 and 100% higher than that of the control culture, respectively. Addition of 1% K-sap increased the carbohydrate accumulation in the cells by about 50%. These results suggest that the supplementation of a seaweed-based biostimulant effectively enhances the growth and biofuel potential of microalgae.

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Acknowledgements

CSIR-CSMCRI Registration Number: 132/2018. The authors acknowledge M/s Aquagri for providing the K-sap prepared using the technology granted by CSIR-CSMCRI. HS acknowledges Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, and CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar, for the opportunity to conduct his dissertation. Analytical support from AESD&CIF, CSIR-CSMCRI is gratefully acknowledged.

Funding

KC and RS acknowledge their funding support with the CSIR-SRF and DST-INSPIRE award and AcSIR for their Ph.D. enrolment.

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Author notes

  1. Himanshu Sati and Kaumeel Chokshi contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Energy Centre, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, 462003, India

    Himanshu Sati

  2. Division of Applied Phycology & Biotechnology, CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar, 364002, India

    Kaumeel Chokshi, Rajapitamahuni Soundarya, Arup Ghosh & Sandhya Mishra

  3. Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India

    Kaumeel Chokshi, Rajapitamahuni Soundarya, Arup Ghosh & Sandhya Mishra

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  1. Himanshu Sati
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  2. Kaumeel Chokshi
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  4. Arup Ghosh
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Correspondence to Arup Ghosh or Sandhya Mishra.

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Sati, H., Chokshi, K., Soundarya, R. et al. Seaweed-based biostimulant improves photosynthesis and effectively enhances growth and biofuel potential of a green microalga Chlorella variabilis. Aquacult Int 29, 963–975 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-021-00667-9

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