Diatom morphology and adaptation: Current progress and potentials for sustainable development

Abstract

Diatoms are a major phytoplankton group, playing a critical role in the biogeochemical cycles of chemical elements such as carbon. They are one of the most abundant single-celled photosynthetic algae, contributing to about 40% of total marine primary production. With the increasing population and associated consumption of resources worldwide, diatoms are considered as one productive group of microalgae with sustainability potentials in several fields, such as being exploited in ecology, aquaculture, renewable fuels, and blue biotechnology for the development of value-added foods, feeds, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. In this review, we first introduced the role of diatoms in ecology as one of the crucial climate modulators. Then we examined and discussed diatom morphotypes and their morphology shift in response to various environmental stress during adaptation. By reviewing the literature on diatom adaptive laboratory evolution under multiple environments, we identified critical metabolic shifts for acclimatization with a focus on the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Finally, we summarized and pinpointed the potential of diatoms for blue biotechnology concerning their unique frustule morphology for a carbon-neutral future.