Abstract
Nile Red (NR) staining potentially offers a simple method
for monitoring lipid accumulation in microalgal
cultivation. However, variable staining efficiencies and
methods have been reported. The effect of dimethyl
sulfoxide (DMSO), ethylene glycol (EG) and glycerol on NR
penetration with four different phytoplankton species
representing different taxonomical groups was studied.
Treatment with the solvents enhanced the NR fluorescence
of the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum during kinetic
fluorescence measurements, but high concentrations of
solvents were needed. None of the solvents improved NR
staining of the green alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa and
Scenedesmus obliquus, which are known to be difficult to
stain due to their thick and rigid cell walls. The naked
Isochrysis sp. cells stained best without solvents. The
results confirm that NR staining protocol needs to be
optimized for each species.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1161-1168 |
| Journal | Journal of Applied Phycology |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2015 |
| MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- fluorescence kinetics
- neutral lipids
- phytoplankton
- solvents