Variation of lipid and fatty acid compositions of the marine microalga Pavlova viridis (Prymnesiophyceae) under laboratory and outdoor culture conditions

Abstract

The marine microalga Pavlova viridis (Prymnesiophyceae) is widely used in marine aquaculture industries of China for feeding bivalves and has been proposed as an alternative source of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). To investigate variation of its lipid and fatty acid compositions during laboratory and outdoor cultivation, a 60-1 photobioreactor was established in Nanjing, China. Outdoor cultivation, paralleled with laboratory cultures in mid-October, was performed from autumn through midwinter. The results showed that the total lipid and EPA contents of outdoor cultures were both lower than those of indoor cultures. When the outdoor temperature and illumination decreased, total lipid experienced no significant change. Although the level of saturated fatty acids decreased, polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially EPA, increased.

Seasonal Variation of Lipids and Fatty Acids of the Microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata Grown in Outdoor Large-Scale Photobioreactors

“…Up to 35% of the variation in SAFA could be explained by a linear function of TGR while the variation in MUFAs and PUFAs indicated a non-linear response to light and temperature. In outdoors Pavlova viridis cultures, PUFAs increased with decreasing light and temperature while TL was constant [11]. Overall PUFAs in our study increased in winter, when light intensity was low, as reported previously [5,11,20,26].…”

“…In outdoors Pavlova viridis cultures, PUFAs increased with decreasing light and temperature while TL was constant [11]. Overall PUFAs in our study increased in winter, when light intensity was low, as reported previously [5,11,20,26]. While MUFAs were high in the autumn possibly as a result of more C16:1 allocated to TAGs, PUFAs (mainly C16:3 ω4 and C18:3 ω3) decreased, potentially converted into C16:1 and C18:1.…”

“…Salinity [24] and CO 2 [14] may also change lipid content and composition. Moreover, TL, FA composition and TAGs formation of microalgae have been reported to vary with light [5,11,12,16,20,25,26] and temperature [5,11,16,27,28]. The general notion of these studies is that high light and high temperature generate a more saturated FA composition with increased TAGs formation compared to low light and low temperature conditions.…”

“…Large-scale microalgal cultivation has mainly been studied for the production of live feed (rotifers) in aquaculture [5][6][7][8][9] and for food additive purposes [10,11]. Some studies have investigated lipid accumulation and composition in outdoors cultivation as a function of light and temperature [5,11,12].…”

“…Some studies have investigated lipid accumulation and composition in outdoors cultivation as a function of light and temperature [5,11,12]. In recent years, the focus on renewable fuel sources has led to the study of large-scale production of microalgae and lipid accumulation [13][14][15].…”