Impact of Arthrospira platensis Morphology on Growth Performance and Zinc Bioaccumulation

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Food Science and Technology, NT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Biotechnology, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Microbiology, NT.C., Islamic Azad University, North Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis has garnered significant attention for its biotechnological applications; however, morphological and physiological variations among different species can considerably influence their industrial viability. This research provides a detailed comparative analysis of two variants of A. platensis (designated as L and S), which exhibit differing trichome morphologies—linear and spiral, respectively. The study investigates their molecular identity, growth characteristics, and resilience to zinc-induced stress. Notably, strain S, characterized by spiral trichomes, exhibited enhanced biomass production (OD590 = 2.6 ± 0.04). In contrast, strain L, with linear trichomes, demonstrated reduced growth (OD590 = 1.8 ± 0.03) and impaired metabolic efficiency at high zinc concentrations, suggesting reduced stress adaptability (p < 0.05). Molecular identification through 16S rRNA sequencing confirmed both strains as A. platensis, showing 99% similarity to type strains in the NCBI database. Both morphologies exhibited concentration-dependent zinc enrichment, with enrichment factor (EF) values reaching 17.03 for strain S and 16.73 for strain L at a zinc concentration of 11 mg L⁻¹. The superior zinc accumulation capacity of the spiral morphotype is likely attributable to a combination of structural and physiological factors. These results underscore the significant influence of trichome morphology on stress tolerance, positioning morphology S as a promising candidate for bioaccumulation and large-scale cultivation. This study offers valuable insights into strain selection for industrial applications.

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References

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Microbiology, Metabolites and Biotechnology

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Available Online from 14 December 2025

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