Growth of the toxic dinoflagellate alexandrium minutum (Dinophyceae) using high biomass culture systems

Toxic dinoflagellates are a globally important microalgae because of algal bloom impacts on aquaculture and human health, but these organisms and their toxins also may be of use for biotechnology applications. Autotrophic growth of Alexandrium minutum was studied in three different high biomass culture systems to evaluate growth, productivity, and toxin production. Various indicators of growth showed that this species grew well in all culture systems tested, showing good biomass and productivity responses to aeration. Aerated glass culture tubes gave the highest cell concentration and productivity. The alveolar panel photobioreactor system gave stable algal growth over 5 months under weekly harvesting of toxins.