Influence of Nitrogen Limitation on Lipid Accumulation and EPA and DHA Content in Four Marine Microalgae for Possible Use in Aquafeed
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Microalgae are regarded as a promising alternative that can replace fishmeal and fish oil in aquaculture. Under N-limitation, many microalgae species change their carbon storage patterns in favor of neutral lipids (NLs) mainly in the form of triacylglycerol (TAG), but fatty acids in polar lipids (PL) are nutritionally more available for fish than those esterified into NLs. In the present study, the effect of N-limitation on the lipid content and fatty acid profiles in different lipid class of Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Isochrysis aff. galbana clone T-Iso, Rhodomonas baltica and Nannochloropsis oceanica were investigated. The microalgae cells were cultivated by two different methods, batch and semi-continuous culture, to create strong and moderate N-limitation, and this in turn will significantly affect the biomass and lipid productivity. All four species accumulated lipids mainly in the form of TAG in response to strong nitrogen limitation. N. oceanica, however accumulated 51% of the dry weight as lipid in moderate nitrogen limitation and up to 87% of the fatty acid was in TAG. Isochrysis aff. galbana clone T-Iso was the only species where the fraction of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), especially the fraction of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) increased with increasing nitrogen limitation. Total lipid productivity showed no increase in batch culture although stronger nitrogen limitation led to lipid accumulation. P. tricornutum had the highest eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content, while N. oceanica showed the highest EPA productivity due to the high content of lipid. The highest DHA productivity was found in Isochrysis aff. galbana clone T-Iso from moderate N-limitation mainly due to the high biomass productivity. Based on the results from the current study, N. oceanica and T-Iso are two promising microalgae strains as long-term sustainable source of n-3 long chain -PUFAs under moderate N-limitation. As shown in the present study, increased lipid content in microalgal cells due to strong N-limitation induction may not increase the lipid productivity because biomass production usually is reduced. Therefore, a combination of approaches such as metabolic engineering, conditioning and selection may be needed to further increase the n-3 LC-PUFA productivity without substantial loss of biomass.
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The group of leaders in growth rate includes Micractinium sp. ME05 (5.2 day−1), Hindakia tetrachotoma ME03 (4.6 day−1), Scenedesmus sp. ME02 (3.5 day−1), Ettlia oleoabundans (1.69 day−1), Phaeodactylum tricornutum CCMP 2561 (1.63 day−1), Cryptomonas baltica NIVA-5/91 (1.4 day−1), Chlorella vulgaris (1.34 day−1), Tetraselmis suecica (1.32 day−1), Isochrysis sp. (1.32 day−1), Arthrospira platensis (
“The group of leaders is formed by: Micractinium sp. ME05 (5.2 day− 1), Hindakia tetrachotoma ME03 (4.6 day− 1), Scenedesmus sp. ME02 (3.5 day− 1) [92], Ettlia oleoabundans (1.69 day− 1) [93], Phaeodactylum tricornutum CCMP 2561 (1.63 day− 1), Cryptomonas baltica NIVA-5/91(1.4 day− 1) [94], Chlorella vulgaris (1.34 day− 1), Tetraselmis suecica (1.32 day− 1), Isochrysis sp. (1.32 day− 1) [93], Arth”
From Nitrogen and phosphorus stress as a tool to induce lipid production in microalgae (2023) · cites this paper as [94]
Table 1 (page not provided) reports a maximum specific growth rate of 1.63 day−1 for Phaeodactylum tricornutum, as cited. It reports 1.40 day−1 for Rhodomonas baltica, not Cryptomonas baltica; the Conclusion identifies the NIVA-5/91 strain as Rhodomonas baltica. (LLM, conf=0.92)
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- Authors
- Wang, X., Fosse, H. K., Li, K., Chauton, M. S., Vadstein, O., & Reitan, K. I.
- Affiliations
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NO)
- SINTEF Ocean (NO)
- Corresponding author
- Wang, Xinxin
- Venue
- Frontiers in Marine Science
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media SA
- Published
- 2019-03-12
- Volume
- 6
- ISSN
- 2296-7745 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2917469795
- Cited by
- 131
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 4
- FWCI
- 3.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Frontiers in Marine Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Norges Forskningsråd
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
- Keywords
- nitrogen limitation, microalgae, lipid accumulation, triglycerides, EPA, docosahexaenoic acid, n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Rhodomonas baltica, Nannochloropsis oceanica, aquaculture feed, fish meal replacement, semi-continuous culture, biomass productivity, lipid productivity
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