Despite many publications about Chlorella-like algae, their reliable and accurate identification is still difficult due to their simplicity and high phenotypic plasticity. The molecular approach has revolutionized our understanding of the diversity of ’small green balls’, and a natural classification of this group is currently being developed. This work is aimed at providing a detailed study of the phylogenetic position, morphology, ultrastructure, and physiology of the biotechnologically remarkable Chlorella-like strain IPPAS C-1210. Based on the SSU–ITS1–5.8S–ITS2 phylogeny, genetic distances, and the presence of compensatory base changes (CBCs) in ITS1 and conserved regions of ITS2 secondary structures, we describe a new genus, Neochlorella, with IPPAS C-1210 as the authentic strain of the type species, N. semenenkoi gen. and sp. nov. In addition, we justify the reassignment of the strain C. thermophila ITBB HTA 1–65 into N. thermophila comb. nov. The distinctive ultrastructural and physiological traits of the new species are discussed.

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Strain Сhlorella sp. IPPAS C-1210 is an effective lipid and triacilglycerols (TAG) producer. The strain could be used eventually in such industries as bioenergetics, food industry and agriculture. The objective of this work was investigation of conditions in which the strain Сhlorella sp. IPPAS C-1210 accumulates the most starch and TAG in cells with a view to optimise its growth and productivity. The following cultivation parameters were investigated in order to figure out their influence on accumulation of starch and TAG: nitrogen- and phosphorous-starvation and cultivation on media with different nitrogen (nitrate, urea) and carbon (carbon dioxide, bicarbonate) sources. Pigments, starch, protein and lipid content in cells were measured. The exclusion of nitrogen or phosphorus source from medium decreased the biomass productivity significantly, caused chlorosis and reduction of protein content. Total lipid content increased slightly after phosphorous starvation and stayed almost constant under nitrogen starvation, however a greater TAG increase was observed during nitrogen starvation. Both nitrogen and phosphorous starvations caused the increase of the amount of reserve carbohydrates: during phosphorous starvation increase was insignificant, whereas the latter almost doubled the amount of reserve carbohydrates. The highest biomass and lipid productivity was observed in cells grown in bicarbonate supplement medium and the highest starch productivity was observed in cells grown in standard BBM-3N medium.