The biomass and total lipid content and composition of twelve species of marine diatoms cultured under various environments

Twelve species of purified marine diatoms were cultured in summer and in winter greenhouses and in an incubator. Subsequently, their biomasses were estimated, and their fatty acid components and contents were analysed using gas chromatography. Among the investigated diatoms, the biomasses ranged from (1.18 +/- 0.059) x 10(6) to (2.51 +/- 0.0126) x 10(7) cells/mL. The total lipid content (dry weight) ranged from 30.2 +/- 1.59% to 45.1 +/- 2.39%, and each diatom included from 12 to 19 different types of fatty acids from a total of 22 different kinds of fatty acids found. The diatoms cultured at varied temperatures (17-32 degrees C) and light intensities (122-655 mu mol photons m(-2) s(-1)) showed different trends of accumulation of PUFA and SFA. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.