The Effect of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Limitations at Different Salt Ratios on Growth and Biochemical Composition of Tetraselmis suecica (Chlorodendrophyceae)

Abstract

Algae are plant organisms in the aquatic environment that produce organic molecules, absorb carbon dioxide and give oxygen to the environment with this process. Algae, one of the most important living resources of the seas, are used in many fields such as food, agriculture, cosmetics, medicine, pharmacy, industry and biofuel source thanks to the metabolites they store in the cell. In the study carried out to determine the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus limitations at different salinity rates on the chlorophyll a, dry matter, optical density, protein, lipid and fatty acid contents of the microalgae Tetraselmis suecica from the class Chlorodendrophyceae cultured in the laboratory conditions, at ‰15, 30 and 45 salinity rates 50% N and 50% P reductions were applied. The lowest growth detected in the treated experimental groups was determined in the culture containing 50% N(-). While the highest lipid ratio was determined with 39.8±1% in 50% N(-) culture, the closest ratio was determined in 50% P(-) culture with 34.6%. Unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) contents were determined in the groups containing the highest 50% P(-). The protein value was determined as 22.3% in the 50% P(-) group and 15.7% in the 50% N(-) group at ‰30 salinity.