Small concentrations of methanol (0.1–0.4%) stimulated the growth of autotrophic batch culture Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The stimulatory effect is to improve the functional state of the photosynthetic apparatus, increasing the rate of CO₂ fixation and reducing the losses of CO₂ in the cycle of photorespiration. The cell packed volume was increased by 34% when grown for 7 days in the presence of 50 mM methanol. Doubling time was decreased by 28% compared with control. The stimulating effect of small concentrations of methanol on the dark respiration rate was also observed.

Keywords: Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, photosynthesis, respiration, photorespiration, methanol, growth stimulation

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