Study of the growth and biochemical composition of 20 species of cyanobacteria cultured in cylindrical photobioreactors

BACKGROUND: Cyanobacteria are prokaryotic organisms with wide morphological and metabolic diversity. By means of photosynthesis, they convert inorganic compounds into biomolecules, which may have commercial interest. In this work, we evaluated 20 cyanobacterial strains regarding their physiological aspects such as growth, photosynthesis and biochemical composition, some of which are revealed here for the first time. The organisms were cultivated in cylindrical photobioreactors (CPBR) for 144 h and the biomass was obtained. The light inside cultures was constant throughout experimental time and maintained at the saturation irradiance (Ik) of each species. Culture pH was maintained within 7.8 and 8.4 by automatic CO(2) bubbling. Growth rate, dry biomass, chlorophyll a, carotenoids, phycocyanin, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and antioxidant activity were determined. RESULTS: The proportionality of the biochemical composition varied among species, as well as the growth rates. Leptolyngbya sp. and Nostoc sp. (CCIBt3249) showed growth rates in the range of 0.7–0.8 d(−1), followed by Rhabdorderma sp. (~ 0.6 d(−1)), and Phormidium sp. (~ 0.5 d(−1)). High carotenoid content was obtained in Rhabdoderma sp. (4.0 μg mL(−1)) and phycocyanin in Leptolyngbya sp. (60 μg mL(−1)). Higher total proteins were found in the genus Geitlerinema (75% DW), carbohydrates in Microcystis navacekii (30% DW) and lipids in Phormidium sp. (15% DW). Furthermore, Aphanocapsa holsatica showed the highest antioxidant activity (65%) and Sphaerocavum brasiliense, Microcystis aeruginosa, Nostoc sp. (CCIBt3249) and A. holsatica higher levels of PHA (~ 2% DW). CONCLUSIONS: This study reports on the biochemical composition of cyanobacteria that can impact the biotechnology of their production, highlighting potential strains with high productivity of specific biomolecules. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12934-023-02035-z.