Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
7077138 | Bioresource Technology | 2014 | 37 Pages |
Abstract
Multi-wavelength chlorophyll fluorescence analysis was utilised to examine the photosynthetic efficiency of the biofuel-producing alga Nannochloropsis oculata, grown under two light regimes; low (LL) and high (HL) irradiance levels. Wavelength dependency was evident in the functional absorption cross-section of Photosystem II (ÏII(λ)), absolute electron transfer rates (ETR(II)), and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of chlorophyll fluorescence in both HL and LL cells. While ÏII(λ) was not significantly different between the two growth conditions, HL cells upregulated ETR(II) 1.6-1.8-fold compared to LL cells, most significantly in the wavelength range of 440-540 nm. This indicates preferential utilisation of blue-green light, a highly relevant spectral region for visible light in algal pond conditions. Under these conditions, the HL cells accumulated saturated fatty acids, whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids were more abundant in LL cells. This knowledge is of importance for the use of N. oculata for fatty acid production in the biofuel industry.
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Authors
Milán Szabó, Kieran Parker, Supriya Guruprasad, Unnikrishnan Kuzhiumparambil, Ross McC. Lilley, Bojan Tamburic, Martin Schliep, Anthony W.D. Larkum, Ulrich Schreiber, John A. Raven, Peter J. Ralph,