Influence of light quality and intensity in the cultivation of Spirulina platensis from Toliara (Madagascar) in a closed system

Abstract

International audienceBACKROUND: Spirulina platensis (Toliara, Madagascar) provides a food supplement which can fight against malnutrition and food insufficiency in Madagascar. In this country, the current production from three open basins is not sufficient to cover needs, and presents drawbacks such as low productivity and possible contamination. Thus cultivation of S. platensis in a closed photobioreactor opens the possibility of extending this microalga production. In this study, the influence of colour and intensity of the light on S. platensis growth and protein content was investigated in a bubble column.RESULTS: Growth kinetics were obtained for four colours (green, white, red and blue) and four intensities (400, 800, 1000 and 1200 lux) of light. The influence of light colour on Spirulina growth was discussed. The highest productivity (183.6mg L(-1) d(-1)) and concentration (2643mg L(-1)) were obtained for green light at 1200 lux. The protein content was 58%.CONCLUSION: Using green light allows improvement of S. platensis growth. Performance obtained with the closed system was higher than that reported in the literature

Production of phycobiliproteins by Arthrospira platensis under different lightconditions for application in food products

“…). Ravelonandro et al (2008) reported that green light was better for accumulation of A. platensis biomass than the other light qualities studied (white, red, and blue). However, the results obtained in the present study are quite different; they indicate that white light promotes more biomass accumulation than green light.…”

“…Another study showed a higher content of protein in biomass cultivated under white and green light-emitting diode (LED) compared with that obtained under blue, yellow, red, and pink LED (Markou, 2014). Ravelonandro et al (2008), found a protein content value of 58% in S. platensis after 10 days of growth under green light at irradiance 1200 lux (~17 μmol fotons.m ). In the present study, the protein content obtained was 59% after 18 days of growth under green light at irradiance of 50 μmol fotons.m -2 .s -1 green light.…”

“…However, the results obtained in the present study are quite different; they indicate that white light promotes more biomass accumulation than green light. Ravelonandro et al (2008) reported that the cell growth interruption could be attributed to inhibition due to high pH values (above 11). Productivity and cell concentration had the maximum values at the highest values of irradiance (1200 lux~17 ).…”

“…Some authors reported that the growth rate of cyanobacteria is directly proportional to light intensity until saturation levels (Wang et al, 2007;Rangel-Yagui et al, 2004;Danesi et al, 2004;Ravelonandro et al, 2008). Ravelonandro et al (2008) .…”

Overview of the potential of microalgae for CO2 sequestration

“…Studies have also suggested that growth under red light (600-700 nm) enhanced PSII relative to PSI, whereas blue light (400-500 nm) could induce PSI. These findings suggest that blue and red lights are more suitable than others for both microalgal cell growth and CO 2 mitigation (You and Barnett 2004;Ravelonandro et al 2008).…”