Photosynthetic physiology and biomass partitioning in the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum grown in a sinusoidal light regime

Photosynthetic microbes respond to changing light environments to balance photosynthetic process with light induced damage and photoinhibition. There have been very few characterizations of photosynthetic physiology or biomass partitioning during the day in mass culture. Understanding the constraints on photosynthetic efficiency and biomass accumulation are necessary for engineering superior strains or cultivation methods. We observed the photosynthetic physiology of nutrient replete Phaeodactylum tricornutum growing in light environments that mimic those found in rapidly mixing, outdoor, low biomass photobioreactors. We found little evidence for photoinhibition or non-photochemical quenching in situ, suggesting photosynthesis remains highly efficient throughout the day. Cells doubled their organic carbon from dawn to dusk and a small percentage - around 20% - of this carbon was allocated to carbohydrates or triacylglycerol. We conclude that the self-shading provided by dense culturing of P. tricornutum inhibits the induction of photodamage, and energy dissipation processes that would otherwise lower productivity in an outdoor photobioreactor.