Effect of Nitrogen on the Biomass Production and Lipid Accumulation of Micractinium reisseri: A potential Microalgal Strain for Bio-fuel Production

Abstract

The potential microalgal strains that are robust and display high growth and lipid accumulation rates are an important prerequisite for using them as a bioenergy source. We have isolated and screened six morphologically different microalgae strains, isolated from the Sabarmati River in Gujarat, India. The growth rates and lipid productivity of all six microalgae were assessed. Three potential microalgae strains were screened based on maximum biomass and lipid production. We named them MA001, MA002 and MA003. We identified MA001 as Micractinium reisseri based on its 28S rRNA sequencing. The M. reisseri showed an optimal growth rate of 2 g/L (dry weight) and 52 % lipid content after 20 days of cultivation in a normal artificial saline medium. Further analysis of lipid accumulation in M. reisseri was investigated at different concentrations of nitrogen. M. reisseri accumulated the highest amount of lipid under nitrogen starvation.