Premium
The potential of quantitative models to improve microalgae photosynthetic efficiency
Author(s) -
Perin Giorgio,
Bellan Alessandra,
Bernardi Andrea,
Bezzo Fabrizio,
Morosinotto Tomas
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/ppl.12915
Subject(s) - algae , photosynthesis , biomass (ecology) , productivity , carbon dioxide , photosynthetic efficiency , carbon dioxide in earth's atmosphere , environmental science , biology , biochemical engineering , botany , ecology , engineering , economics , macroeconomics
The massive increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere driven by human activities is causing huge negative consequences and new sustainable sources of energy, food and materials are highly needed. Algae are unicellular photosynthetic microorganisms that can provide a highly strategic contribution to this challenge as alternative source of biomass to complement crops cultivation. Algae industrial cultures are commonly limited by light availability, and biomass accumulation is strongly dependent on their photon‐to‐biomass conversion efficiency. Investigation of algae photosynthetic metabolism is thus strategic for the generation of more efficient strains with higher productivity. Algae are cultivated at industrial scale in conditions highly different from the natural niches they adapted to and strains development efforts must fully consider the seminal influence on productivity of regulatory mechanism of photosynthesis as well as of cultivation parameters like cells concentration, light distribution in the culture, mixing, nutrients and carbon dioxide availability. In this review we will focus in particular on how mathematical models can account for the complex influence of all environmental parameters and can be exploited for development of improved algae strains.