Light/dark cycling causes delayed lipid accumulation and increased photoperiod-based biomass yield by altering metabolic flux in oleaginous sp.

Background: Light/dark cycling is an inevitable outdoor culture condition for microalgal biofuel production; however, the influence of this cycling on cellular lipid production has not been clearly established. The general aim of this study was to determine the influence of light/dark cycling on microalgal biomass production and lipid accumulation. To achieve this goal, specific causative mechanisms were investigated using a metabolomics approach.