A Push–Pull Strategy to Enhance Biomass and Lipid Production in Nannochloropsis oculata

The high demand for sustainable biodiesel feedstocks has led to the exploration of innovative strategies to enhance lipid productivity in microalgae. This study introduces a push-pull strategy to optimize lipid accumulation in <i>Nannochloropsis oculata</i>. The benzyl amino purine (BAP) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) stimulation, acting as the 'push' component, significantly boost growth and nutrient stress tolerance. Meanwhile, the 'pull' component, nitrogen (N) deficiency, triggers lipid biosynthesis. A Box-Behnken design was employed to optimize the factors named BAP fraction (0-1), total phytohormone (PH) BAP/NAA mix dose (0-20 ppm), and N-concentration (0-50%). The combined BAP/NAA treatment significantly increased biomass (15% higher than the control) and mitigated N-stress with higher doses (20 ppm). Lipid yield surged from 12.4% to 38.87% under optimized conditions (23.25% N, 39.5 ppm NAA, and BAP fraction 0). The push-pull strategy contributed to boosting lipid synthesis and balancing biomass production. N-limitation and total PH dosage were the determining factors in this strategy. This work demonstrates the potential of the push-pull strategy in increasing lipid accumulation, offering a promising and optimistic solution for biodiesel production at scale from microalgae. By reducing dependence on fossil fuels, <i>N. oculata</i> emerges as a reliable feedstock for oil extraction and biodiesel.