Biomass and Lipid Production Potential of an Indian Marine Algal Isolate Tetraselmis striata BBRR1

Abstract

Four different strains of marine algae viz. Tetraselmis tetrathele, Tetraselmis striata, Tetraselmis chuii, and Tetraselmis gracilis were isolated from the saltpans in Kovelong, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The systematic position of Tetraselmis striata BBRR1 was confirmed through molecular identification. Under laboratory conditions, T. striata Butcher BBRR1 grown in f/2-medium recorded highest biomass concentration of 0.58 ± 0.021 g L−1, volumetric productivity of 0.025 ± 0.004 g L−1 d−1, 19 ± 2.3% proteins, 17 ± 1.5% carbohydrates, and 15 ± 2.4% lipids. Volumetric biomass productivity of 0.063 ± 0.08 g L−1 d−1, specific growth rate of 0.45 day−1 and lipid content of 19.42 ± 0.98% were recorded for the alga T. striata Butcher BBRR1 cultivated in 10-m2 open raceway ponds using Modified CFTRI ABRR1 medium. The fatty acid profile of T. striata Butcher BBRR1 showed the presence of 33.14% palmitic acid, 22.64% 11-octadecenoic acid, and 21.94% heptadecanoic acid. This study confirms the feasibility of cultivating the marine alga T. striata in open raceway ponds to produce biomass, which can be used for the production of biofuels.

Laboratory- and Pilot-Scale Cultivation of Tetraselmis striata to Produce Valuable Metabolic Compounds

“…Tetraselmis striata has recently been cultivated in large-scale raceway ponds placed outdoors or in a greenhouse [ 14 , 27 ]. Specifically, Boopathy et al [ 27 ] and Gojkovic et al [ 14 ] cultivated this strain using F and another medium modified with urea, achieving specific growth rates of 0.24–0.45 d −1 and 0.10–0.21 d −1 , respectively, while both of them presented maximum biomass concentration of about 0.9 g L −1 .…”

“…Tetraselmis striata has recently been cultivated in large-scale raceway ponds placed outdoors or in a greenhouse [ 14 , 27 ]. Specifically, Boopathy et al [ 27 ] and Gojkovic et al [ 14 ] cultivated this strain using F and another medium modified with urea, achieving specific growth rates of 0.24–0.45 d −1 and 0.10–0.21 d −1 , respectively, while both of them presented maximum biomass concentration of about 0.9 g L −1 . According to Cuello et al [ 25 ], Tetraselmis suecica in raceway ponds presented maximum biomass concentrations in the range of 0.26–0.48 mg L −1 , while higher values were observed by using Tetraselmis viridis (0.3–0.78 g L −1 ) [ 12 ].…”

“…was cultivated in 25,000 L ponds presenting chlorophyll α contents of 1.05–1.34% d.w., carotenoids 0.38–0.49% d.w., 32.21–39.61% d.w., lipids 14.97–17.78% d.w. and proteins 22.82–31.25% d.w. [ 5 ]. Tetraselmis striata was cultivated in a 2000 L raceway pond by Boopathy et al [ 27 ] and produced lipid contents of 16.50% and 19.42% on two different growth substrates. Additionally, the biomass chemical composition of Tetraselmis striata was studied in different working volume ponds of 8000–45,000 L placed in a greenhouse or outdoors, yielding average contents of 35.9% d.w. proteins, 19.7% d.w. carbohydrates, 5.5% d.w. lipids, and 38.9% d.w. ash [ 14 ].…”

“…Very little research has been done on the cultivation of Tetraselmis striata on a pilot scale or large-scale units. Specifically, T. striata was cultivated in a pilot bubble column of 33 L by Holdt et al [ 26 ], who studied growth and pigment production and recently, it was cultivated in large-scale raceway ponds of 2000–45,000 L while monitoring growth, biomass composition and fatty acid profiles [ 14 , 27 ]. According to Gojkovic et al [ 14 ], Tetraselmis striata (one of the lesser-studied species of the Tetraselmis genus) presented high protein content (up to 35.9%), revealing that its biomass can be an important source of food and feed.…”