Environmental effects on growth and biochemical composition of Nitzschia inconspicua Grunow

The effects of nitrate and silicate levels, and carbon source on growth, biochemical composition and fatty acid composition of Nitzschia inconspicua were investigated using batch cultures. Within the range of silicate levels supplied (8.8-176 mu M), no marked variations in growth trend, biochemical composition or fatty acid composition were shown. Biomass at stationary phase, ranging from 64-66 mg ash-free dry weight (AFDW) L super(-1), and specific growth rate ( mu ) based on chlorophyll a (0.41-0.50 d super(-1)) of the cultures grown within 0.3-3.0 mM NaNO sub(3) were not significantly different. Cultures supplemented with glucose (0.1% w/v), acetate (0.1% w/v) or 5% CO sub(2) attained higher biomass (85, 85, 97 mg AFDW L super(-1)) than the control which was grown in synthetic seawater and agitated by magnetic stirring. Cells grown at