Optimisation of Biomass Production and Nutritional Value of Two Marine Diatoms (Bacillariophyceae), and .

and are two cosmopolitan high-value centric diatoms, with a rich nutritional profile. The following work optimised the culture medium of and cultures, respectively, in a stepwise process as follows: 2.4 mM and 1.2 mM of silicate, 4 mM of nitrate, 100 µM of phosphate, 20 and 80 µM iron, and 0.5 mL L of micronutrients. The results that were obtained revealed an increase in biomass productivity with a 1.8- and 3.2-fold increase in biomass that was produced by and , respectively. The biochemical profile showed an increase in high-value PUFAs such as 2.6-fold and 2.3-fold increase in EPA for and , respectively, whilst a 2.6-fold increase in DHA was detected in cultures. The present work provides the basic tools for the industrial cultivation of and with enhanced productivity as well as improved biomass quality, two factors which are highly relevant for a more effective application of these diatoms to aquaculture and nutraceutical production.