Trait drift in microalgae and applications for strain improvement
Open accessAbstract
Microalgae are increasingly used to generate a wide range of commercial products, and there is growing evidence that microalgae-based products can be produced sustainably. However, industrial production of microalgal biomass is not as developed as other biomanufacturing platform technologies. In addition, results of bench-scale research often fail to translate to large-scale or mass production systems. This disconnect may result from trait drift and evolution occurring, through time, in response to unique drivers in each environment, such as cultivation regimes, weather, and pests. Moreover, outdoor and indoor cultivation of microalgae has the potential to impose negative selection pressures, which makes the maintenance of desired traits a challenge. In this context, this review sheds the light on our current understanding of trait drift and evolution in microalgae. We delineate the basics of phenotype plasticity and evolution, with a focus on how microalgae respond under various conditions. In addition, we review techniques that exploit phenotypic plasticity and evolution for strain improvement in view of industrial commercial applications, highlighting associated advantages and shortcomings. Finally, we suggest future research directions and recommendations to overcome unwanted trait drift and evolution in microalgae cultivation.
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Although technological advances have improved operational predictability, microalgae cultivation remains vulnerable to environmental and biological fluctuations.
“In this regard, although technological advances have improved operational predictability, microalgae cultivation remains vulnerable to environmental and biological fluctuations.”
From Microalgae biotechnology and its role in sustainable and healthy food design (2025) · cites this paper as Jebali et al., 2022
Section 3.1.2.3 (Pests; page not provided) describes how outdoor light and temperature fluctuations can cause trait drift and reduce productivity; it also notes that outdoor cultures may face pests. The concluding remarks likewise describe environmental change as a challenge for maintaining desired traits. Our copy does not establish that technological advances have improved operational predictability. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThis limitation highlights the need for complementary strategies such as the selection of more adaptable and resilient strains and the adoption of robust operational regimes.
“This limitation highlights the need for complementary strategies, such as the selection of more adaptable and resilient strains, and the adoption of robust operational regimes (Borowitzka, 2013; Jebali et al., 2022).”
From Microalgae biotechnology and its role in sustainable and healthy food design (2025) · cites this paper as Jebali et al., 2022
Traditional approaches like selective breeding, strain development, and environmental adaptation have long been used to improve algal traits, but require extended periods.
“Traditional approaches like selective breeding and strain development [107,108] and environmental adaptation [109,110] have long been used to improve algal traits.However, both methods typically require extended periods of time to achieve significant improvements.”
From A Review of Algae-Based Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (Algae-Based CCUS) (2024) · cites this paper as [108]
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References 216 · Cited by 30
- Authors
- Jebali, A., Sanchez, M. R., Hanschen, E. R., Starkenburg, S. R., & Corcoran, A. A.
- Affiliations
- New Mexico Consortium (US)
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (US)
- Corresponding author
- Jebali, Ahlem
- Venue
- Biotechnology Advances
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2022-11
- Volume
- 60
- Pages
- 108034
- ISSN
- 0734-9750 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4295093174
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 216
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 7
- FWCI
- 0.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/open-access/userlicense/1.0/ (am, 315 d)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-017 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-037 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-012 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-029 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-004 (stm-asf)
- Locations
- Biotechnology Advances (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Energy (DE-EE0008902)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Keywords
- microalgae, phenotypic plasticity, strain improvement, microalgae cultivation, selection pressure, bioproduction
- MeSH terms
- Phenotype, Biomass, Biofuels, Microalgae
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