Microalgae taxonomy and breeding.

Abstract

Microalgae rich in lipids are used for production of lipid-derived biofuel and biodiesel in particular. Collection, cultivation, selection and breeding of naturally occurring strains with high lipid productivity or genetically modified microalgae with desired phenotype is required for both increase in biomass as well as lipid production. This chapter describes the taxonomy emphasizing lipid content; collection and selection of new microalgal strains for higher lipids and other traits; maintenance of freshwater and marine water strains; breeding strategies to improve strains; development of selectable markers; and genetic engineering to improve lipid production of microalgae.

Development of Microalgae Biodiesel: Current Status and Perspectives

“…Microalgae are a diverse group of prokaryotic and eukaryotic photosynthetic unicellular organisms. More than 50,000 microalgal species live in various environmental conditions, including water domains such as streams, rivers, lakes, oceans, and terrestrial ecosystems [ 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”

Microalgae Encapsulation Systems for Food, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics Applications

“…Their classification is based on various properties, such as pigmentation, the chemical nature of photosynthetic storage products, the organization of photosynthetic membranes, and other morphological features. The most abundant microalgal classes are Cyanophyceae (blue-green algae), Chlorophyceae (green algae), Bacillariophyceae (including the diatoms), and Chrysophyceae (including golden algae) [ 3 , 20 ]. A resume of the main microalgae classes, their most studied species, and associated biological activities are described in Figure 1 .…”

Current challenges of microalgae applications: exploiting the potential of non‐conventional microalgae species

“…3,4 Prokariotic microalgae include cyanobacteria, traditionally known as blue-green algae (divisions Cyanophyta and Prochlorophyta), which are gram-negative bacteria; whereas eukaryotic microalgae, for which the systemic classification is essentially based on their pigment composition, include Chlorophyceae (green algae), Phaeophyceae (brown algae), Pyrrophyceae (dinoflagellates), Chrysophyceae (golden brown algae), Bacillariophyceae (diatoms), Rhodophyceae (red algae), Euglenophyta, Cryptophyta, Haptophyta, Dinophyta and Xantophyceae. 5 Microalgae synthesize a broad range of molecules with different structures and functional roles, a large amount of proteins are produced both for biological and structural functions, whereas secondary metabolites are accumulated to interact with external environmental conditions. Moreover, microalgae structural (polar) and reserve (neutral) lipids have a diversified composition of fatty acids, often related to the ecological niches, including polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ω-3 and ω-6.…”

“…It has been estimated that they have occupied the Earth's surface for more than 3 billion years, contributing to the creation of the current terrestrial atmospheric composition and being responsible for fixing 40% of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) 3,4 . Prokariotic microalgae include cyanobacteria, traditionally known as blue‐green algae (divisions Cyanophyta and Prochlorophyta), which are gram‐negative bacteria; whereas eukaryotic microalgae, for which the systemic classification is essentially based on their pigment composition, include Chlorophyceae (green algae), Phaeophyceae (brown algae), Pyrrophyceae (dinoflagellates), Chrysophyceae (golden brown algae), Bacillariophyceae (diatoms), Rhodophyceae (red algae), Euglenophyta, Cryptophyta, Haptophyta, Dinophyta and Xantophyceae 5 . Microalgae synthesize a broad range of molecules with different structures and functional roles, a large amount of proteins are produced both for biological and structural functions, whereas secondary metabolites are accumulated to interact with external environmental conditions.…”