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Nitrogen, phosphorus and high CO2 modulate photosynthesis, biomass and lipid production in the green alga Chlorella vulgaris

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Abstract

Climate change could impact nutrient bioavailability in aquatic environment. To understand the interaction of nutrient bioavailability and elevated CO2, Chlorella vulgaris cells were grown in ambient air or 5% CO2 in different concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in a photobioreactor. The chlorophyll content, photosynthesis and respiration rates increased in 5% CO2 to support higher biomass production. The nutrient limitation in the growth media resulted in reduced photosynthetic rates of the algal cells and their PSI, PSII, and whole chain electron transport rates and biomass production. Conversely, their lipid content increased partly due to upregulation of expression of several lipid biosynthesis genes. The order of downregulation of photosynthesis and upregulation in lipid production due to nutrient limitation was in the order of N > P. The N-50 and 5% CO2 culture had only 10% reduction in biomass and 32% increase in lipids having 85% saturated fat required for efficient biofuel production. This growth condition is ideal for generation of biodiesel required to reduce the consumption of fossil fuel and combat global warming.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India (2/662017 -IBSD) to BCT and DBS.

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  1. Kanchan Kumari and Shilalipi Samantaray have contributed equally.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India

    Shilalipi Samantaray & Baishnab C Tripathy

  2. Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India

    Kanchan Kumari & Dinabandhu Sahoo

  3. Department of Biotechnology, Sharda University, Knowledge Park 3, Greater Noida, 201306, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Baishnab C Tripathy

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  1. Kanchan Kumari
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Kumari, K., Samantaray, S., Sahoo, D. et al. Nitrogen, phosphorus and high CO2 modulate photosynthesis, biomass and lipid production in the green alga Chlorella vulgaris. Photosynth Res 148, 17–32 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-021-00828-0

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