Isolation of fast-growing thraustochytrids and seasonal variation on the fatty acid composition of thraustochytrids from mangrove regions of Navi Mumbai, India

Abstract

This study was aimed to isolate fast-growing thraustochytrids and the influence of seasonal variation in fatty acid composition from the mangrove habitat. The thraustochytrids were isolated from fallen yellowish or green mangrove leaves, in four seasons, including winter, summer, rainy, and post rainy season in one year. The thraustochytrids were analyzed for biomass production, total lipid content, and fatty acid profile. The thraustochytrid isolates showed biomass yield and total lipid content in the range of 14.12 ± 0.69 to 22.98 ± 0.53 g/L and 34.98-58.86% per dry cell weight, respectively. The isolates showed two dominant fatty acids, palmitic acid (PA) as saturated fatty acid (SFA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) in total fatty acid (TFA) content. The significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed for seasonal variations in SFA and DHA content in summer isolates and winter isolates. The maximum DHA content with 47.12% of TFA, recorded in winter (January) isolates and summer (April) isolates with SFA 68.82% of TFA. The results from this study were verified the hypothesis that the presence of high DHA producing thraustochytrids in lower temperature season in the same habitat. These findings have also emphasized the role of the environmental temperature conditions and the importance of thraustochytrid fatty acid composition as a dietary biomarker. Also, it revealed the ecological significance of thraustochytrid in DHA enrichment in the food web of the marine ecosystem. These findings could be useful while isolating thraustochytrids according to seasons for industrial application for omega 3 fatty acids and biodiesel production.

Keywords: Aurantiochytrium sp; Biodiesel; Docosahexaenoic acid; Fatty acid composition; Saturated fatty acids; Thraustochytrids.