Production of Okadaic Acid in Prorocentrum Lima Through Mixotrophic Cultures with Macroalgal Polysaccharides

Prorocentrum lima is highly investigated in the aquaculture of bivalve mollusks due to the production of toxins. Currently, various studies with traditional autotrophic means are used to increase the production of okadaic acid (OA) in P. lima culture, although the synthesis of its toxins occurs in small quantities. The innovation of mixotrophic cultures with macroalgal polysaccharides allowed us to know that the P. lima strains used were capable of assimilating organic carbon. Strain D008-1 grew better in the medium with Agarophyton chilensis polysaccharides (0.07±0.06 day-1), however, strain D008-5 that grew in the medium with Codium fragile polysaccharides synthesized the greatest amount of OA (13.2 pg OA cell-¹) on day 7, achieving more OA in a shorter time than the L1-Si autotrophic medium. This production could be due to the presence of sulfated and glucose groups in the polysaccharides of C. fragile. In both autotrophic and mixotrophic cultures, a high production of OA was obtained compared to a reduced amount of Dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX-1). This study consisted of implementing a non-traditional means through an organic carbon source to increase biomass growth and toxin synthesis of P. lima.