Publication
Title
Light regime and growth phase affect the microalgal production of protein quantity and quality with Dunaliella salina
Author
Abstract
The microalga Dunaliella salina has been widely studied for carotenogenesis, yet its protein production for human nutrition has rarely been reported. This study unveils the effects of growth phase and light regime on protein and essential amino acid (EAA) levels in D. salina. Cultivation under 24-h continuous light was compared to 12-h/12-h light/dark cycle. The essential amino acid index (EAAI) of D. salina showed accumulating trends up to 1.53 in the stationary phase, surpassing FAO/WHO standard for human nutrition. Light/dark conditions inferred a higher light-usage efficiency, yielding 597% higher protein and 1828% higher EAA mass on light energy throughout the growth, accompanied by 138% faster growth during the light phase of the light/dark cycle, compared to continuous light. The findings revealed D. salina to be especially suitable for high-quality protein production, particularly grown under light/dark conditions, with nitrogen limitation as possible trigger, and harvested in the stationary phase.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Bioresource technology. - Barking
Publication
Barking : 2019
ISSN
0960-8524
DOI
10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2018.12.046
Volume/pages
275 (2019) , p. 145-152
ISI
000456405000018
Pubmed ID
30583115
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 08.01.2019
Last edited 09.10.2023
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