Unlocking the potential of Euglena gracilis cultivated in piggery wastewater: biomass production, nutrient removal, and biostimulant potential in lettuce and tomato plants

Butzke, Valéria Louzada Leal; Ferreira, Alice; Oliveira Corrêa, Diego de; Furlan, Júnior Mendes; Gouveia, Luisa; Schneider, Rosana de Cássia de Souza; Corbellini, Valeriano Antonio

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/25825

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Autores

Butzke, Valéria Louzada Leal

Ferreira, Alice

Oliveira Corrêa, Diego de

Furlan, Júnior Mendes

Gouveia, Luisa

Schneider, Rosana de Cássia de Souza

Corbellini, Valeriano Antonio

Resumo(s)

Microalgae are increasingly recognized as a valuable resource for bolstering sustainability in agriculture. However, current research and patents primarily focus on Chlorella spp., Scenedesmus spp., and Spirulina spp., thus leaving the vast diversity of microalgae relatively unexplored for agricultural applications. Euglena gracilis (Euglenophyta) is a microalga renowned for its resilience to diverse environmental stressors and capability to produce a variety of bioactive metabolites. This study investigated the potential of cultivating E. gracilis in piggery wastewater for nutrient recycling and as a source of beneficial biomolecules, particularly for biostimulant use. Utilizing raw wastewater diluted to 25% (P25) and pre-treated wastewater with photo-Fenton (PF), the research found that E. gracilis exhibited elevated cell density, biomass concentration, and overall cell health in both wastewaters compared to a synthetic medium (BG11-NPK). This was due to its efficient removal of nutrients, especially ammoniacal-nitrogen and phosphate, resulting in a biomass rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, amino acids, and paramylon content.