Investigation of Direct and Indirect Effects of Factors Related to Dry Matter in Microalgae

Amount of dry matter are related directly or indirectly with chlorophyll a, optical density, light and temperature in Phaeodactylum tricornutum cultures. In this study, path analysis was used to determine which is important for the factors associated with the amount of dry matter. Optical density, chlorophyll a, temperature and light intensity were factors included in analysis. It was occured a control group with a 20% vaccination rate and a 50% nitrogen (N) reduced group were constituted. At the end of the study, the highest direct effect on the amount of dry matter in the control group was optical density. The light intensity was determinated as the highest indirect effect. The relationship between the amount of dry matter with optical density and chlorophyll a was found statistically significant. Path coefficient was determinated greater than 1 in the 50% nitrogen reduced medium. Other variables were observed to have low direct and indirect effects