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Updated: Nov 12, 2025

Measuring Nitrite and Nitrate, Metabolites in the Nitric Oxide Pathway, in Biological Materials using the Chemiluminescence Method
Published on: December 25, 2016
Nitrate and nitrite as mixed source of nitrogen for Chlorella vulgaris: Growth, nitrogen uptake and pigment contents
Victor Pozzobon1, Na Cui1, Alissa Moreaud1
1LGPM, CentraleSupélec, Université Paris-Saclay, SFR Condorcet FR CNRS 3417, Centre Européen de Biotechnologie et de Bioéconomie (CEBB), 3 rue des Rouges Terres, 51110 Pomacle, France.
Abstract:
Chlorella vulgaris was grown using mixed sources of nitrogen (nitrate and nitrite). Starting from B3N as basal medium, nitrate was substituted by nitrite keeping total nitrogen constant over 7 conditions: 0, 20, 40, 50, 60, 80 and 100% NO2-. Growth rate, nitrogen uptake, photosynthetic apparatus status and pigment contents were monitored. Nitrite addition triggered a growth rate inhibition from early introduction (20% NO2-, 81 mgNO2-/l). Nitrate uptake rate increased with nitrate content in the culture medium (maximum at 5.87 mg/l/Nd, 100% NO3-), while nitrite uptake remained constant around 2.93 mgN/l/d. Photosynthetic apparatus was not impacted by the nitrogen source substitution. Pigments profiles (chlorophyll a, b and total carotenoids) were not statistically different for all the tested conditions. From a biotechnological perspective, this finding rules out the use of nitrite substitution as a pigment manipulating stress strategy.
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