In the past decade, considerable progress has been made in developping the appropriate biotechnology for microalgal mass cultivation aimed at establishing a new agro-industry. This review point out the main biological constraints affecting algal biotechnology outdoors, and the requirements for making this biotechnology economically viable. One of the them is the availability of a wide variety of algal species and improved strains that favourably respond to environmental conditions existing outdoors. It is just a matter of time and effort before a new methodology like genetc engineering can and will be applied in this field as well. The study of stress physiology and acclimation of microalgae has also an important application in further development of the biotechnology for mass culturing of microalgae. In outdoor cultures, cells are exposed to severe changes in light and temperature much faster than the time scale required for cell to acclimate. A better understanding of those parameters and the ability to rapidly monitor those conditions will provide the growers with a better knowledge on how to optimize growth and productivity. Induction of accumulation of high value products is associated with stress conditions. Understanding the physiological response may help in providing a better production system for desired product and, at the later stage, give and insight of the potential for genetic modification of desired strains. The potential use of microalgae as part of a biological system for bioremediation/detoxification and wastewater treatment is also associated with growing cells under stress conditions. Important developments in monitoring and feedback control of the culture behaviour through application of on-line chlorophyll fluorescence technique are in progress. Understanding the process associated with those unique environmental conditions may help in choosing the right culture conditions as well as selecting strains in order to improve the efficiency of the biological process.
Biological constraints in algal biotechnology
Torzillo G;Pushparaj B;
2003
Abstract
In the past decade, considerable progress has been made in developping the appropriate biotechnology for microalgal mass cultivation aimed at establishing a new agro-industry. This review point out the main biological constraints affecting algal biotechnology outdoors, and the requirements for making this biotechnology economically viable. One of the them is the availability of a wide variety of algal species and improved strains that favourably respond to environmental conditions existing outdoors. It is just a matter of time and effort before a new methodology like genetc engineering can and will be applied in this field as well. The study of stress physiology and acclimation of microalgae has also an important application in further development of the biotechnology for mass culturing of microalgae. In outdoor cultures, cells are exposed to severe changes in light and temperature much faster than the time scale required for cell to acclimate. A better understanding of those parameters and the ability to rapidly monitor those conditions will provide the growers with a better knowledge on how to optimize growth and productivity. Induction of accumulation of high value products is associated with stress conditions. Understanding the physiological response may help in providing a better production system for desired product and, at the later stage, give and insight of the potential for genetic modification of desired strains. The potential use of microalgae as part of a biological system for bioremediation/detoxification and wastewater treatment is also associated with growing cells under stress conditions. Important developments in monitoring and feedback control of the culture behaviour through application of on-line chlorophyll fluorescence technique are in progress. Understanding the process associated with those unique environmental conditions may help in choosing the right culture conditions as well as selecting strains in order to improve the efficiency of the biological process.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
