Cultivation of Limnospira maxima under extreme environmental conditions in Saudi Arabia: Salinity adaptation and scaling-up from laboratory culture to large-scale production.

Limnospira maxima has been adapted to grow in high salinity and in an economically alternative medium using industrial-grade fertilizers under harsh environmental conditions in Saudi Arabia. A sequence of scaling-up processes, from the laboratory to large-scale open raceways, was conducted along with gradual adaptation to environmental stress (salinity, light, temperature, pH). High biomass concentration at harvest point and areal productivity were achieved during the harsh summer season (1.