title: Continuous background light significantly increases flashing-light enhancement of photosynthesis and growth of microalgae.
abstract: Under specific conditions, flashing light enhances the photosynthesis rate in comparison to continuous illumination. Here we show that a combination of flashing light and continuous background light with the same integrated photon dose as continuous or flashing light alone can be used to significantly enhance photosynthesis and increase microalgae growth. To test this hypothesis, the green microalga Dunaliella salina was exposed to three different light regimes: continuous light, flashing light, and concomitant application of both. Algal growth was compared under three different integrated light quantities; low, intermediate, and moderately high. Under the combined light regime, there was a substantial increase in all algal growth parameters, with an enhanced photosynthesis rate, within 3days. Our strategy demonstrates a hitherto undescribed significant increase in photosynthesis and algal growth rates, which is beyond the increase by flashing light alone.
authors.affiliation: The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel; The Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (BINA), Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel. Electronic address: said.abu-ghosh@biu.ac.il.
authors.forename: Said
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abu-Ghosh
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel; The Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (BINA), Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel.
authors.forename: Dror
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fixler
authors.affiliation: The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel.
authors.forename: Zvy
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dubinsky
authors.affiliation: The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Iluz
mesh_terms: D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D058086:Microalgae / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D017440:Photoperiod; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011829:Radiation Dosage
keywords: Biomass; Enhancement effect; Flashing light; Microalgae biotechnology; Photosynthesis