Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Light-emitting diodes—a plus on microalgae biomass and high-value metabolite production

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

Abstract

Light plays a crucial role in photosynthetic microalgae, and its quality is a key point for biomass production and the variability of the organisms’ biochemical composition, with blue and red, the light bands being the most effectively absorbed by green algae. Recently, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have emerged as an alternative that allow a better modulation of algal metabolism. The aim of this work was to study the effects of blue and red LEDs on antioxidant capacity, biomass productivity (Px) and carotenoid and fatty acid content over time in a microalga known to be a producer of antioxidant compounds, Scenedesmus obliquus M2-1. Monochromatic blue (B) and red (R) LEDs and two dichromatic combinations of blue and red (BR (40:60) and BR (50:50)) were tested, and fluorescent lamp (FL) was used as a control. Then, supplementation effects of near-infrared radiation (NIR) LEDs were assessed in the same in parameters. Results show that B induced higher PX and higher content in fatty acids when compared with other LED conditions tested. Scenedesmus obliquus M2-1 under R attained a higher antioxidant capacity and under BR (40:60) a higher carotenoid production, particularly lutein and β-carotene, when compared with that of FL. NIR supplementation in BR (40:60) and R treatments enhanced PX and fatty acid content, changing the profile of antioxidant compound production over time, but keeping the maximum concentration. Additionally, NIR supplementation decreased the total carotenoid production. This study reveals that the use of R and BR (40:60) LEDs are a useful tool to enhance the production of carotenoids in S. obliquus M2-1.

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
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Afify AE-MMR, El Baroty GS, El Baz FK, Abd El Baky HH, Murad SA (2018) Scenedesmus obliquus: antioxidant and antiviral activity of proteins hydrolyzed by three enzymes. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 16:399–408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amaro HM, Guedes AC, Preto MAC, Sousa-Pinto I, Malcata FX (2018) Gloeothece sp. as a nutraceutical source-an improved method of extraction of carotenoids and fatty acids. Mar Drugs 16:17

  • Aparicio PJ, Quinones MA (1991) Blue light, a positive switch signal for nitrate and nitrite uptake by the green alga Monoraphidium braunii. Plant Physiol 95:374–378

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beel B, Prager K, Spexard M, Sasso S, Weiss D, Müller N, Heinnickel M, Dewez D, Ikoma D, Grossman AR, Kottke T, Mittag M (2012) A flavin binding cryptochrome photoreceptor responds to both blue and red light in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Plant Cell 24:2992–3008

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Behrendt L, Schrameyer V, Qvortrup K, Lundin L, Sørensen SJ, Larkum AWD, Kühl M (2012) Biofilm growth and near-infrared radiation-driven photosynthesis of the chlorophyll d-containing cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina. Appl Environ Microbiol 78:3896–3904

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bohne F, Linden H (2002) Regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis genes in response to light in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Biochim Biophys Acta 1579:26–34

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen CY, Yeh KL, Aisyah R, Lee DJ, Chang JS (2011) Cultivation, photobioreactor design and harvesting of microalgae for biodiesel production: a critical review. Bioresour Technol 102:71–81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chory J (2010) Light signal transduction: an infinite spectrum of possibilities. Plant J 61:982–991

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Darko E, Heydarizadeh P, Schoefs B, Sabzalian MR (2014) Photosynthesis under artificial light: the shift in primary and secondary metabolism. Phil Trans R Soc B 369:20130243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dring MJ (1988) Photocontrol of development in algae. Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol 39:157–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fu W, Guethmundsson O, Paglia G, Herjolfsson G, Andresson OS, Palsson BO, Brynjolfsson S (2013) Enhancement of carotenoid biosynthesis in the green microalga Dunaliella salina with light-emitting diodes and adaptive laboratory evolution. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 97:2395–2403

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guedes AC, Meireles LA, Amaro HM, Malcata FX (2010) Changes in lipid class and fatty acid composition of cultures of Pavlova lutheri, in response to light intensity. J Am Oil Chem Soc 87:791–801

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guedes AC, Amaro HM, Barbosa CR, Pereira RD, Malcata FX (2011a) Fatty acid composition of several wild microalgae and cyanobacteria, with a focus on eicosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic and α-linolenic acids for eventual dietary uses. Food Res Int 44:2721–2729

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guedes AC, Amaro HM, Malcata FX (2011b) Microalgae as sources of carotenoids. Mar Drugs 9:625–644

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guedes AC, Amaro HM, Malcata FX (2011c) Microalgae as sources of high added-value compounds—a brief review of recent work. Biotech Progr 27:597–613

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guedes AC, Amaro HM, Pereira RD, Malcata FX (2011d) Effects of temperature and pH on growth and antioxidant content of the microalga Scenedesmus obliquus. Biotech Progr 27:1218–1224

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guedes AC, Amaro HM, Giao MS, Malcata FX (2013a) Optimization of ABTS radical cation assay specifically for determination of antioxidant capacity of intracellular extracts of microalgae and cyanobacteria. Food Chem 138:638–643

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guedes AC, Giao MS, Seabra R, Ferreira AC, Tamagnini P, Moradas-Ferreira P, Malcata FX (2013b) Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of cell extracts from microalgae. Mar Drugs 11:1256–1270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ho SH, Chan MC, Liu CC, Chen CY, Lee WL, Lee DJ, Chang JS (2014) Enhancing lutein productivity of an indigenous microalga Scenedesmus obliquus FSP-3 using light-related strategies. Bioresour Technol 152:275–282

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ishaq A, Peralta HM, Basri H (2016) Bioactive compounds from green microalga – Scenedesmus and its potential applications: a brief review. Pertanika J Trop Ag Sci 39:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Jahns P, Holzwarth AR (2012) The role of the xanthophyll cycle and of lutein in photoprotection of photosystem II. Biochim Biophys Acta 1817:182–193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Katsuda T, Lababpour A, Shimahara K, Katoh S (2004) Astaxanthin production by Haematococcus pluvialis under illumination with LEDs. Enz Microb Technol 35:81–86

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kreslavsky VD, Kobzar EF, Muzafarov EN (1997) Effect of red radiation, kinetin and linuron on growth and ethylene production in Chlorella. Biol Plant 39:427–430

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee C-G, Palsson BØ (1996) Photoacclimation of Chlorella vulgaris to red light from light-emitting diodes leads to autospore release following each cellular division. Biotech Progr 12:249–256

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Li L, Liu J, Qin R (2020) Light absorption and growth response of Dunaliella under different light qualities. J Appl Phycol 32:1041–1052

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masojídek J, Koblížek M, Torzillo G (2008) Photosynthesis in microalgae. In: Richmond A (ed) Handbook of microalgal culture: biotechnology and applied phycology. Wiley, London, pp 20–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazza M, Pomponi M, Janiri L, Bria P, Mazza S (2007) Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants in neurological and psychiatric diseases: an overview. Progr Neuro-Psychopharmacol Biol Psych 31:12–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patnaik R, Singh NK, Bagchi SK, Rao PS, Mallick N (2019) Utilization of Scenedesmus obliquus protein as a replacement of the commercially available fish meal under an algal refinery approach. Front Microbiol 10:2114

  • Politaeva N., Smiatskaia I., Bazarnova I.G., Atamaniuk I., K. K (2018) Influence of infrared radiation on the growth rate of microalgae Chlorella sorokiniana. Int J Biotech Bioeng 12:214–217

  • Pulz O, Gross W (2004) Valuable products from biotechnology of microalgae. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 65:635–648

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roscher E, Zetsche K (1986) The effects of light quality and intensity on the synthesis of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and its mRNAs in the green alga Chlorogonium elongatum. Planta 167:582–586

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez Mirón A, Cerón Garca M-C, García Camacho F, Molina Grima E, Chisti Y (2002) Growth and biochemical characterization of microalgal biomass produced in bubble column and airlift photobioreactors: studies in fed-batch culture. Enz Microb Technol 31:1015–1023

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez-Saavedra MP, Jiménez C, Figueroa FL (1996) Far-red light inhibits growth but promotes carotenoid accumulation in the green microalga Dunaliella bardawil. Physiol Plant 98:419–423

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulze PSC, Barreira LA, Pereira HGC, Perales JA, Varela JCS (2014) Light emitting diodes (LEDs) applied to microalgal production. Trends Biotechnol 32:422–430

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schulze PSC, Pereira HGC, Santos TFC, Schueler L, Guerra R, Barreira LA, Perales JA, Varela JCS (2016) Effect of light quality supplied by light emitting diodes (LEDs) on growth and biochemical profiles of Nannochloropsis oculata and Tetraselmis chuii. Algal Res 16:387–398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stanier RY, Kunisawa R, Mandel M, Cohen-Bazire G (1971) Purification and properties of unicellular blue-green algae (order Chroococcales). Bacteriol Reviews 35:171–205

  • Tale M, Singh R, Kapadnis B, Ghosh S (2017) Effect of gamma irradiation on lipid accumulation and expression of regulatory genes involved in lipid biosynthesis in Chlorella sp. J Appl Phycol 30:277–286

  • Teo CL, Atta M, Bukhari A, Taisir M, Yusuf AM, Idris A (2014) Enhancing growth and lipid production of marine microalgae for biodiesel production via the use of different LED wavelengths. Bioresour Technol 162:38–44

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vadiveloo A, Moheimani NR, Cosgrove JJ, Bahri PA, Parlevliet D (2015) Effect of different light spectra on the growth and productivity of acclimated Nannochloropsis sp. (Eustigmatophyceae). Algal Res 8:121–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vadiveloo A, Moheimani NR, Cosgrove JJ, Parlevliet D, Bahri PA (2017) Effects of different light spectra on the growth, productivity and photosynthesis of two acclimated strains of Nannochloropsis sp. J Appl Phycol 29:1765–1774

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilde A, Churin Y, Schubert H, Börner T (1997) Disruption of a Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 gene with partial similarity to phytochrome genes alters growth under changing light qualities. FEBS Lett 406:89–92

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yeh N, Chung J-P (2009) High-brightness LEDs—energy efficient lighting sources and their potential in indoor plant cultivation. Renew Sust Energy Rev 13:2175–2180

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshioka M, Yago T, Yoshie-Stark Y, Arakawa H, Morinaga T (2012) Effect of high frequency of intermittent light on the growth and fatty acid profile of Isochrysis galbana. Aquaculture 338–341:111–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

A PhD fellowship (reference SFRH/BD/136767/2018) for author Fernando Pagels was granted by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) under the auspices of Programa Operacional Capital Humano (POCH), supported by the European Social Fund and Portuguese funds (MECTES).

Funding

This work was partially financially supported by the Strategic Funding through national funds provided by FCT UIDB/04423/2020 and UIDP/04423/2020 granted to CIIMAR and UIDB/00511/2020 granted to the Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy – LEPABE funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CIIMAR – Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal

    Helena M. Amaro, Fernando Pagels, Isabel C. Azevedo, Joana Azevedo, I. Sousa Pinto & A. Catarina Guedes

  2. FCUP – Faculty of Science, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal

    Fernando Pagels & I. Sousa Pinto

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal

    F. Xavier Malcata

  4. LEPABE – Laboratory of Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal

    F. Xavier Malcata

Authors
  1. Helena M. Amaro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fernando Pagels
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Isabel C. Azevedo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Joana Azevedo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. I. Sousa Pinto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. F. Xavier Malcata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. A. Catarina Guedes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Conceptualisation: Helena M. Amaro and A. Catarina Guedes; methodology: Helena M. Amaro, A. Catarina Guedes and Joana Azevedo; formal analysis and investigation: Helena M. Amaro, Isabel Azevedo and Fernando Pagels; writing - original draft preparation: Helena M. Amaro and Fernando Pagels; writing - review and editing: A. Catarina Guedes; funding acquisition: I. Sousa Pinto and F. Xavier Malcata; and supervision: A. Catarina Guedes, F. Xavier Malcata and I. Sousa Pinto.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Catarina Guedes.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

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

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Amaro, H.M., Pagels, F., Azevedo, I.C. et al. Light-emitting diodes—a plus on microalgae biomass and high-value metabolite production. J Appl Phycol 32, 3605–3618 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-020-02212-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-020-02212-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation