CULTURED EXTREMOPHILIC ALGAE SPECIES NATIVE TO NEW MEXICO

摘要

Provided herein is an extremophile green alga designated as Scenedesmus species Novo, from Jemez warm water springs, New Mexico. Sequencing 18S rDNA confirmed the alga as a new species. It is capable of producing high levels of microalgal biomass in wastewater under harsh ambient climatic conditions, and of yielding high levels of lipids and carotenes. Cultures in TAP medium at 24±1° C. at continuous light (132-148 μmol photons m⁻²s⁻¹) attained peak biomass levels 27.4×10⁶ cells ml⁻¹, 49.11 μg ml⁻¹ chlorophyll α, 24.93 μg ml⁻¹ carotene on the seventh day and a division rate of 0.54 day⁻¹. High levels of biomass were sustained in sterilized and unsterilized municipal wastewater, enriched with 1% TAP nutrients or unenriched. The microalga is useful in the production of biofuels, fertilizers, dietary nutrients, pharmaceuticals, polymers, biofilters to remove nutrients and other pollutants from wastewaters, in space technology, and laboratory research systems.