Abstract

The present study evaluated the effects of five bacterial isolates from the microalga Muriellopsis sp. on the microalgal biomass concentration (g/L), specific growth rate (K), photosynthetic quantum yield (QY), non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), maximum relative electron transport rates (rETR max) and levels of nutritional components such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and carotenoids in Muriellopsis sp. cultivated in seawater under indoor and outdoor conditions. The bacterial strains were Microbacterium sp. Dom 1; Pseudomonas sp. Dom2; Microbacterium sp. Dom 3; Rhizobium sp. Dom 4; and Dietzia sp. Dom 5, as well as the Pseudoalteromonas sp. (SLP1), a bacterium known to promote the growth of microalgae. At the laboratory level, inoculation of the strains SLP1, Dom 1, Dom 3 and Dom 5 resulted in higher specific growth rates and biomass of the microalga. Subsequently, the best results were obtained with a combination of the selected bacterial strains (Dom1, Dom 3, Dom5 and SLP1) under outdoor culture conditions improved the biomass, proteins, carbohydrates and total carotenoids in 22.12%, 48.28%, 19,25% and 48.27%, respectively, compared to cultures without the incorporation of the selected bacteria (control), while no effects were observed on the photosynthetic parameters. Thus, it was demonstrated that positive associations of the selected bacterial strains played an important role in the production of Muriellopsis sp. acclimatized to grow in seawater. This is of crucial importance, especially in desert areas, where solar radiation is high and freshwater is a limited resource.