A co-cultivation process of Nannochloropsis oculata and Tisochrysis lutea induces morpho-physiological and biochemical variations potentially useful for biotechnological purposes

Abstract The biotechnological potential of microalgae has gained considerable importance in many applied fields: biomass production for food and feed, cosmeceutical pharmaceutical products, energy phytoremediation. driving force that inspires the progress is need new cultivation systems to obtain simultaneously maximum yield, reduction water nutrients use, economically interesting molecules, such as pigments, fatty acids polysaccharides. We aim test, first time, co-cultivation saline medium Tisochrysis lutea (Haptophyta) Nannochloropsis oculata (Ochrophyta) valuable compounds, i.e. pigments lipids characteristic each species, using a single culture process. Mono-cultures strain were used controls. two strains showed an increase concentration chlorophylls carotenoids co-culture. At end experiment, acid profile was analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. co-cultivated cell extracts mainly attributable N. , which represented 97% total cells (ca. 83% biomass) at experiment. Nevertheless, ω-3 T. (DHA SDA, absent ) also detectable. Although these phylogenetically different species did not show positive effects on growth lipid production, however, this process resulted costs lower consumption nutrients.