New insights into raceway cultivation of Euglena gracilis under long-term semi-continuous nitrogen starvation

This study aimed to investigate the physiological responses of Euglena gracilis (E. gracilis) when subjected to semicontinuous N-starvation (N−) for an extended period in open ponds. The results indicated that the growth rates of E. gracilis under the N− condition (11 ± 3.3 g m(−2) d(−1)) were higher by 23% compared to the N-sufficient (N+, 8.9 ± 2.8 g m(−2) d(−1)) condition. Furthermore, the paramylon content of E.gracilis was above 40% (w/w) of dry biomass in N− condition compared to N+ (7%) condition. Interestingly, E. gracilis exhibited similar cell numbers regardless of nitrogen concentrations after a certain time point. Additionally, it demonstrated relatively smaller cell size over time, and unaffected photosynthetic apparatus under N− condition. These findings suggest that there is a tradeoff between cell growth and photosynthesis in E. gracilis, as it adapts to semi-continuous N− conditions without a decrease in its growth rate and paramylon productivity. Notably, to the author’s knowledge, this is the only study reporting high biomass and product accumulation by a wild-type E. gracilis strain under N− conditions. This newly identified long-term adaptation ability of E. gracilis may offer a promising direction for the algal industry to achieve high productivity without relying on genetically modified organisms.