Caroline Widayat^1,2, Yenny Risjani^1,2*, Rachmi Nurdiani², Paul B Hamilton³, Cuneyt N Solak^4,2

¹Research Center on Algae and Environment (ALGAEN Center), University of Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia, Jl. Veteran, Malang, 65145, Indonesia

²Department of Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Universitas Brawijaya, Jl. Veteran, Malang, 65145, Indonesia

³Phycology Section, Research and Collections Divisions, Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, ON K1P6P4, Canada

⁴Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Art, University of Dumlupınar, 43000 Kütahya, Turkiye

 

*Corresponding author’s email: risjani@ub.ac.id

Received: 01 March 2026 / Revised: 24 May 2026 / Accepted: 03 June 2026 / Published Online: 19 June 2026

 

Abstract

 

From the early culturing research of Louis Pasteur (1857-1864) the current use of microbial cultures in scientific research for genetics, virology, bacteriology, mycology and the characterization of algae is extensively documented. Further, cultures have been invaluable in studying the genetic production of amino acids, and general metabolic processing for basic cellular functions and pharmaceuticals. In diatom research, cultures have been instrumental in studying systematics, cell movement, contaminant impacts and resistance, silica valve formation, lipid (biofuel) production and advancements in nanotechnology. The continued documentation of morphological variations in diatom species supported by molecular data, using cultures, is scientifically essential in determining diatom evolutionary relationships and the functional realities within their cellular ecosystem services. This article reviews selected procedures and methods of isolation and culturing specifically related to phycology, including small- and large-scale open culture systems, and closed systems using photobioreactors.

 

Keywords: Diatom, Isolation, Cultivation, Characterization, Photobioreactor

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