title: Flashing light in microalgae biotechnology.
abstract: Flashing light can enhance photosynthesis and improve the quality and quantity of microalgal biomass, as it can increase the products of interest by magnitudes. Therefore, the integration of flashing light effect into microalgal cultivation systems should be considered. However, microalgae require a balanced mix of the light/dark cycle for higher growth rates, and respond to light intensity differently according to the pigments acquired or lost during the growth. This review highlights recently published results on flashing light effect on microalgae and its applications in biotechnology, as well as the recently developed bioreactors designed to fulfill this effect. It also discusses how this knowledge can be applied in selecting the optimal light frequencies and intensities with specific technical properties for increasing biomass production and/or the yield of the chemicals of interest by microalgae belonging to different genera.
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: D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D001709:Biotechnology; D008027:Light; D058086:Microalgae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D017440:Photoperiod; D010788:Photosynthesis
keywords: Biomass; Energy efficiency; Flashing light; Microalgae biotechnology; PUFA