LIGHT AND NITROGEN DEFICIENCY EFFECTS ON THE GROWTH AND COMPOSITION OF PHAEODACTYLUM-TRICORNUTUM

The marine microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum, with a high lipid con tent constituting 20-60% of its dry weight under controlled growth con ditions (1), has recently come into focus as a potentially rich source of dietary marine vegetable oil. In particular, this species has a ch aracteristic high content of eicosapentenoic acid (EPA), which has pot ential benefits in human nutrition, since it cannot be synthesized in vivo in the human body. Some factors that could alter the biochemical composition of Phaeodactylum tricornutum in favor of lipid production have been examinated in this study.