Pilot-scale cultivation of red microalga Porphyridium purpureum culture in a greenhouse for assessment of production potential under mid-latitude climate conditions

Document Type : Original research

Authors

• Andrei B. Borovkov
• Irina N. Gudvilovich
• Anna L. Avsiyan
• Svetlana Yu. Gorbunova

Department of Biotechnology and Phytoresources, A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS, Sevastopol, Russia

10.22034/iar.2025.2009179.1811

Abstract

The growth of red marine microalga Porphyridium purpureum and the production of B-phycoerythrin (B-PE) pigment were examined during pilot cultivation in a laboratory and in a greenhouse. The studies of P. purpureum cultivation in a greenhouse were conducted under mid-latitude climate conditions during different seasons. Maximum B-PE content (56 mg·g-1) and productivity (655.2 mg·m-2·day-1) were observed under controlled laboratory conditions. A strong linear correlation was found between the total daily irradiance and areal biomass productivity across different seasons. The total biomass and B-PE yield in May were significantly higher compared to other seasons (49.6 and 1.13 g·m-2), and in December these values were minimal. Despite the highest biomass productivity (12 g·m-2·day-1), culture death occurred in June. The photosynthetic efficiency exhibited seasonal variation, ranging from 2.87% in May to 3.83% in November, and was significantly higher under laboratory conditions (6.94%). The spring period is generally favorable for P. purpureum growth under mid-latitude climate conditions, whereas culture growth in summer has a certain potential, however, the impact of high illumination and temperature conditions should be considered and controlled. Although productivity in autumn-winter period was lower and limited by light supply, the possibility of obtaining additional biomass yield was demonstrated.

Keywords

• Porphyridium . Open ponds . Productivity . Yield . Phycobiliproteins . B
• phycoerythrin

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