Chlorophyll Fluorescence as a Valuable Multitool for Microalgal Biotechnology
Open accessAbstract
Variable fluorescence of chlorophyll (CF) of the photosynthetic apparatus is an ample source of valuable information on physiological condition of photosynthetic organisms. Currently, the most widespread CF-based technique is represented by recording pulse-amplitude modulated (PAM) induction of CF by saturating light. The CF-based monitoring techniques are increasingly employed for characterization of performance and stress resilience of microalgae in microalgal biotechnology. Analysis of CF induction curves reveals the fate of light energy absorbed by photosynthetic apparatus, the proportions of the energy that have been utilized for photochemistry (culture growth), and heat dissipated by photoprotective mechanisms. Hence CF and its derived parameters are an accurate proxy of the metabolic activity of the photosynthetic cell and the engagement of photoprotective mechanisms. This information is a solid foundation for making decisions on the microalgal culture management during the lab-scale and industrial-scale cultivation. Applications of CF and PAM include the monitoring of stressor (high light, nutrient deprivation, extreme temperatures, etc.) effects for assessment of the culture robustness. It also serves as a non-invasive express test for gauging the effect of assorted toxicants in microalgae. This approach is becoming widespread in ecological toxicology and environmental biotechnology, particularly for bioprospecting strains capable of the destruction of dangerous pollutants such as pharmaceuticals. In the review, we discuss the advantages and drawbacks of using CF-based methods for assessment of the culture conditions. Special attention is paid to the potential caveats and applicability of different variations of CF and PAM measurements for solving problems of microalgal biotechnology.
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Fluorometric analysers such as the Trilogy Fluorometer allow accurate monitoring of chlorophyll fluorescence and provide a rapid and non-destructive method for assessing microalgae culture status.
“Fluorometric analysers such as the Trilogy Fluorometer from Turner Designs allow accurate monitoring of chlorophyll fluorescence and provide a rapid and non-destructive method for assessing the status of microalgae culture [206].”
From Multi-Sensing Monitoring of the Microalgae Biomass Cultivation Systems for Biofuels and Added Value Products Synthesis—Challenges and Opportunities (2025) · cites this paper as [206]
The Introduction says chlorophyll-fluorescence measurements are rapid and non-destructive and useful for monitoring the physiological condition of cultivated microalgae. Our copy does not identify the Trilogy Fluorometer or Turner Designs, so it does not substantiate the claim about that particular analyser. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredFluorometric methods based on chlorophyll fluorescence measurement quantify biomass and evaluate the growth dynamics of microalgae.
“Fluorometric methods for quantifying biomass based on chlorophyll fluorescence measurement are another technique for evaluating the growth dynamics of microalgae.”
From Multi-Sensing Monitoring of the Microalgae Biomass Cultivation Systems for Biofuels and Added Value Products Synthesis—Challenges and Opportunities (2025) · cites this paper as [206]
The Abstract describes chlorophyll fluorescence as a proxy for microalgal metabolic activity and culture growth, and the Introduction describes its use in monitoring culture condition, including growth and stress transitions. However, the paper does not say that these measurements quantify biomass; that part of the citing sentence is unsupported. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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- Authors
- Solovchenko, A., Lukyanov, A., Vasilieva, S., & Lobakova, E.
- Affiliations
- Tambov State University (RU)
- Lomonosov Moscow State University (RU)
- Corresponding author
- Solovchenko, Alexei
- Venue
- Biophysical Reviews
- Published
- 2022-04-06
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 973-983
- ISSN
- 1867-2450 (ISSN-L)
- 1867-2469
- PMC
- PMC9481855
- OpenAlex
- W4226071528
- Cited by
- 42
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2
- FWCI
- 0.81
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Biophysical Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Russian Science Foundation (21-74-20004)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Keywords
- chlorophyll fluorescence, microalgae, microalgal biotechnology, photoprotection, stress resilience, toxicant screening, bioprospecting, drug degradation
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