Can Thraustochytrids such as Schizochytrium do photosynthesis? I know they belong to the phylum of heterokonts and that they are being heterotrophically grown on an industrial scale but I can't seem to find any reference to them being grown photoautotrophically. People call them marine algae yet there is no mention of photosynthesis. I did find this paper which says they have several carotenoids so I assume they have those because of their LHC's and photoprotection. It would be great if anyone had some more detailed information (papers) regarding their properties.

I think not.

from Kingdoms and Domains: An Illustrated Guide to the Phyla of Life on Earth By Lynn Margulis, Michael J Chapman. as found on google books

You will see there are no chloroplasts depicted. These are eukaryotes and so to do photosynthesis they would need chloroplasts which should be evident.

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