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Lipid productivity and fatty acid composition in Chlorella and Scenepdesmus strains grown in nitrogen-stressed conditions

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Abstract

Thirty Chlorella and 30 Scenedesmus strains grown in nitrogen-stressed conditions (70 mg L−1 N) were analyzed for biomass accumulation, lipid productivity, protein, and fatty acid (FA) composition. Scenedesmus strains produced more biomass (4.02 ± 0.73 g L−1) after 14 days in culture compared to Chlorella strains (2.57 ± 0.12 g L−1). Protein content decreased and lipid content increased from days 8 to 14 with an increase in triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation in most strains. By day 14, Scenedesmus strains generally had higher lipid productivity (53.5 ± 3.7 mg lipid L−1 day−1) than Chlorella strains (35.1 ± 2.8 mg lipid L−1 day−1) with the lipids consisting mainly of C16–18 TAGs. Scenedesmus strains generally had a more suitable FA profile with higher amounts of saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and a smaller polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) component. Chlorella strains had a larger PUFA component and smaller MUFA component. The general trend in the FA composition of Chlorella strains was oleic > palmitic > α-linolenic = linoleic > eicosenoic > heptadecenoic > stearic acid. For Scenedesmus strains, the general trend was oleic > palmitic > linoleic > α-linolenic > stearic > eicosenoic > palmitoleic > heptadecenoic acid. The most promising strains with the highest lipid productivity and most suitable FA profiles were Scenedesmus sp. MACC 401, Scenedesmus soli MACC 721, and Scenedesmus ecornis MACC 714. Although Chlorella sp. MACC 519 had lower lipid productivity, the FA profile was good with a lower PUFA component compared to the other Chlorella strains analyzed and a low linolenic acid concentration.

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Acknowledgments

The European Union Project, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and the National Research Foundation (South Africa)/Hungarian Collaborative Project are thanked for financial support. The authors also acknowledge the TÁMOP-4.2.2-08/1-2008-0020 project for support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Institute of Plant Biology, University of West Hungary, Vár 2, 9200, Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary

    Vince Ördög & Péter Bálint

  2. Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

    Vince Ördög, Wendy A. Stirk & Johannes van Staden

  3. Central Agricultural Office, Food and Feed Safety Directorate, Feed Investigation National Reference Laboratory, Remény Str 42, 1114, Budapest, Hungary

    Csaba Lovász

  4. IGV Institute for Cereal Processing Ltd., Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 40-41, 14558, Nuthetal, Germany

    Otto Pulz

Authors
  1. Vince Ördög
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  2. Wendy A. Stirk
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  3. Péter Bálint
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  4. Csaba Lovász
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  5. Otto Pulz
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  6. Johannes van Staden
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Correspondence to Vince Ördög.

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Ördög, V., Stirk, W.A., Bálint, P. et al. Lipid productivity and fatty acid composition in Chlorella and Scenepdesmus strains grown in nitrogen-stressed conditions. J Appl Phycol 25, 233–243 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-012-9857-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-012-9857-6

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