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The present study compared the stress response of two microalgal strains – Arthronema africanum (Cyanoprokaryota) and Coelastrella sp. BGV (Chlorophyta), after heavy metals’ treatment. Changes of algal growth, pigment and protein content were analyzed after adding Cu, Cd and Pb (50 µM and 100 µM) to the nutrition medium. It was found that Cd and Pb significantly inhibited growth and protein biosynthesis of microalgae, but the effect of Cu remained less pronounced. In both strains, a decrease of chlorophyll content was observed, while carotenoid content markedly increased, especially in Coelastrella sp. BGV biomass. The addition of 100 µM Cd and 100 µM Pb to the medium caused a strong enhancement of malondialdehyde in both microalgal strains, which corresponded to the significant increase of superoxide dismutase and catalase activity. The antioxidant enzymes appeared to be differently altered by heavy metals’ exposure. The activity of SOD in the Arthronema africanum cells was most strongly affected by Cd, in contrast to Coelastrella sp. BGV that was highly increased by 100 µM Pb. The application of 100 µM Cd and 100 µM Pb increased in a similar manner catalase activity in both microalgae. The strains that were studied showed a high absorption capacity for metal ions, especially for Pb, which was absorbed largely than Cd and Cu. For that reason, we assumed that both microalga and, in particular, Coelastrella sp. BGV, could be successfully used for treatment of contaminated water bodies.

The economic challenges of microalgae biodiesel production, including the energy burden and water shortage, can be addressed simultaneously by using wastewater as a nitrogen source. However, as a major form of nitrogen, ammonium is toxic to most microalgae strains, which limits the use of ammonium-containing wastewater. High-ammonium-tolerant algal strains remain to be explored. In this study, a microalgal strain named HDMA-01, which was isolated from Lake Dongfeng in China, was selected using a high ammonium medium. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that HDMA-01 belongs to the genus Monoraphidium (Selenastraceae, Sphaeropleales), and both 18S ribosomal DNA and ITS sequences of HDMA-01 appeared to be new molecular records of the Monoraphidium species. HDMA-01 can multiply vigorously using acetic acid and ammonium in TAP medium, reaching a density of 2 ×107 mL−1 within 7 days. HDMA-01 showed strong tolerance for ammonium. At a high ammonium concentration of 14 mM, HDMA-01 achieved maximum biomass and lipid productivity of 78.9 mg L−1 day−1 and 13.8 mg L−1 day−1, which is the highest among other Monoraphidium strains under similar cultivation conditions. Together with its ideal fatty acid profile, HDMA-01 has great potential for development as a promising strain used in biodiesel feedstock and high-ammonium tolerance biotechnology.

Lanceola loveni antarctica and L. sphaerica are rare deep-sea species known from very few specimens. Until recently (Zeidler 2019) L. loveni antarctica was known only from the types, seven specimens (7–27 mm), from the Indian Ocean Sector of the Antarctic (Vinogradov 1962). Similarly, L. sphaerica, originally described as a variety of L. clausi (Vinogradov, 1957), based on two damaged specimens, a female (8.0 mm) and a male (9 mm), from the Kurile-Kamchatka region of the NW Pacific, later elevated to full species status by Vinogradov (1970) upon the discovery of a well-preserved male (5 mm) from the same general region, was until then known only from these three specimens. The recent discovery of several specimens of both species in the USNM (Zeidler 2019) has now made it possible to provide a more detailed redescription of these rare species, including some new distribution records.

The occurrence of three species belonging to the small coenobia forming green algae Desmodesmus and Didymocystis is reported from the northernmost part of Lake Tanganyika, East Africa. During a monitoring between September 2011 and October 2013 the highest number of cells of Desmodesmus bicellularis and Didymocystis comasii were observed in August and September, at the end of the dry season. On the other hand, the third taxon, Didymocystis cf. inermis, was only sporadically observed between September 2011 and March 2012. According to existing databases, it should be the first records from Africa of these three species. However, D. bicellularis (as Didymocystis bicellularis) was already reported in 2003 in phytoplankton samples of the pelagic zone from more southern located places in Lake Tanganyika.

This paper describes a new species from the Class Chlorophyceae, Mychonastes frigidus sp. nov., isolated from a cold-water mountain stream in the north of Russia (Subpolar Ural). The taxon is described using morphological and molecular methods. Mychonastes frigidus sp. nov. belongs to the group of species of the genus Mychonastes with spherical single cells. Comparison of ITS2 rDNA sequences and its secondary structures combined with the compensatory base changes approach confirms the separation between Mychonastes frigidus sp. nov and other species of the genus. Mychonastes frigidus sp. nov. represents a cryptic species that can only be reliably identified using molecular data.

The Pandanduri Dam has a function as a support for agricultural irrigation water and also supports community activities so that it will affect the quality of its waters. The quality of the water needs to be analyzed because it can affect the aquatic ecosystem. This study aims to determine the level of water pollution in the Pandanduri Dam based on the phytoplankton community from the Chlorophyta Division. This type of research is descriptive exploratory. Sampling was carried out at 5 stations that were haphazardly selected with ecological representativeness consideration. Phytoplankton data were analyzed using the abundance formula, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, PIELOU uniformity index, and Simpson dominance index. The phytoplankton from the Chlorophyta Division found in the Pandanduri Dam were 14 species that are Pediastrum duplex var. Gracillimum, Gonium sp. 1, Gonium sp. 2, Coelastrum reticulatum, Scenedesmus acuminatus, Cosmarium sp., Chlamydomonas nasuta, Chlamydomonas sp., Selenastrum capricornutum, Monoraphidium dybowskii, Monoraphidium contortum, Monoraphidium irregular, Westella botryoides, and Kirchneriella lunaris consisting of 4 orders (Sphaeropleales, Chlorococcales, Chlamydomonadales and Desmidiales) and 10 genera (Pediastrum, Coelastrum, Scenedesmus, Gonium, Cosmarium, Chlamydomonas, Selenastrum, Monoraphidium, Westella, and Kirchneriella). The species diversity index of 2.21 is classified as moderate diversity, the species uniformity index is 0.83 which indicates even species growth, and the species dominance index indicates that no species dominates with a value of 0.12. The level of water pollution in the Pandanduri Dam was found in the moderate pollution category (oligotrophic).

The two genera Planktosphaeria (the type Pl. gelatinosa G.M.Smith) and Follicularia (the type F. paradoxalis Miller) have numerous chloroplast segments, each with a single pyrenoid. Autospore repro...

The genus Hariotina was established in 1889 based on the type species Hariotina reticulata. This species was then transferred to Coelastrum by Senn (1899). The genus Hariotina was eventually restor...

Lanceola sphaerica Vinogradov, 1970 Lanceola clausi var. sphaerica Vinogradov 1957: 196, fig. 6. Lanceola sphaerica Vinogradov, 1970: 383, 386���388, figs 1���2.��� Vinogradov et al. 1982 / 1996: 73���75 /84���86, fig. 20.���Zeidler 2009: 44���45, fig. 13.��� Zeidler 2019: 514. Material examined. Southern Ocean: immature female (USNM 1090248), Amundsen Sea, Cruise 11, station 930 [70��08���S 109��48���W], 1,391 m, 19 January 1964 (figured here). SE Pacific: immature female (USNM 1089971), off Chilean coast near Valdivia, Cruise 6, station 326 [38��19���S 74��34���W], 1,691���2,072 m, 25 November 1962. Type material. Lanceola sphaerica was first described as a variety of L. clausi from two damaged specimens, a mature female (8 mm) and a male (9 mm), both caught in the Kurile-Kamchatka region of the North-West Pacific. The female from Vityaz station 2076 [43��39���N 149��24���E], 4,200 ���7,800 m, 9 May 1953 and the male from Vityaz station 2208 [49��23���N 158��45���E], 0���6,500 m, 22 June 1953 (Vinogradov 1957). Later, Vinogradov (1970) established it as a full species with the availability of a well-preserved male (5.5 mm) from the same general area; Vityaz station 5626 [45��11���N 152��28���E], 3,000 ���4,000 m, 23���24 August 1966. All three specimens are in the Zoological Museum of the Moscow State University (Mb���1051, 1052, 1053). Description of immature female 4.5 mm (Fig. 3). Pereonites 1���4 inflated, almost spherical. Head without rostrum. Eyes very small, reniform, without crystalline cones. A1 slightly longer than head and first pereonite combined. A2 as long as A1 with two long setae terminally. G1; basis relatively slender, slightly shorter than remaining articles combined; carpus length 0.5 x basis, distal margin width about 1.3 x proximal margin of propodus; propodus conical-shaped, length about 2 x proximal width; dactylus length almost 0.5 x propodus. G2 much longer and slenderer than G1; basis length about 0.7 x remaining articles combined, about 2 x carpus length; propodus gradually tapering to narrow distal margin, length about 1.4 x carpus; dactylus inserted terminally to propodus, length about 0.4 x propodus. P3 and P4 similar in length and morphology; basis length slightly more than 2 x merus; merus with distinct antero-distal bulge, maximum width about 0.8 x length; carpus length 1.6 x merus for P3, 1.8 x merus for P4; propodus length 1.3 x carpus for P3, 1.1 x carpus for P4; dactylus length slightly more than 0.3 x propodus. P5���7 all with relatively long, slender articles and fully retractile, hooded dactyls but propodus not club-like distally. P5 slightly shorter than P4; basis length almost 2 x merus; carpus length 1.3 x merus, 0.8 x propodus; dactylus in relatively broad hollow. P6 length almost 1.3 x P5, slightly longer than first four pereonites combined; basis length about 2 x merus; merus with very slight postero-distal bulge; carpus length 1.5 x merus; propodus length about 1.4 x merus; dactylus strongly curved, pressed against anterior margin of propodus. P7 length 0.7 x P6; basis length 2.5 x merus; merus with slight postero-distal bulge; carpus length 1.2 x merus, about 0.6 x propodus. Urosome with relatively slender peduncles and rami. Rami of all uropoda more or less sub-equal in length, with slightly serrated margins. Peduncles and rami of U1 & U2 similar in length. Peduncle length of U3 slightly less than rami. Telson acute, apex rounded; length about 1.5 x width at base, reaching to about the middle of peduncle of U3. Remarks. Lanceola sphaerica is distinguished from all its congeners by a combination of several characters; i) the inflated pereon (especially in females); ii) the relatively long dactyls of P3���7 (especially P 3���4 in mature males); iii) the structure of P5 becoming sub-chelate in males; and iv) the relatively short telson. It is clearly most similar to the highly variable species, L. clausi, in the general habitus and the relative lengths of the pereopods but is readily distinguished by the slightly more inflated pereon and the relatively longer dactyls of P3���7. The female specimen described here is similar to L. clausi pirloti Shoemaker, 1945 in that the antennae are of similar length and the merus of P3���4 has a distinct antero-distal bulge, but differs from it in that the basis of the gnathopoda is slender; P6 is relatively longer and the uropoda are slenderer. In the long dactyls of P3 and P4, it resembles L. longidactyla Vinogradov, 1964 but in that species the dactyls are relatively much longer and P5 is not modified. It also resembles L. chelifera Vinogradov, 1970, especially in the modification of P5 but in that species the dactylus of P5 is not retractile or hooded and the structure of P3 and P4 is completely different. As noted by Vinogradov (1970), females of L. sphaerica differ from males in the following characters: i) P3 and P4 are more weakly armed and the dactyls are relatively shorter; ii) the articles of P5 are more linear, with less armature and the propodus is not robust and the dactylus is not as strong, not becoming sub-chelate. The specimen described here agrees with these characters and there are only very minor differences in the relative lengths of articles that can be determined from the limited information provided for the female by Vinogradov (1957, 1970). The sexual dimorphism exhibited in the morphology of P5 seems to become more prominent in mature males. Like L. clausi, L. sphaerica seems to occur in the colder waters of both Hemispheres. Distribution. Known only from the Kurile-Kamchatka region of the Pacific Ocean, the Amundsen Sea, Antarctica and the South-East Pacific, as detailed above. The latter is a new distribution record for L. sphaerica. Vinogradov (1970) records it as ���one of the most deeply-living hyperiids, being restricted to the abyssopelagic zone (including the trench waters) and does not rise above 3,000 m into the bathypelagic���, based on the specimens from the Kurile-Kamchatka region. It is recorded here from 1,391 m and 1,691 ���2,072 m., Published as part of Zeidler, Wolfgang, 2021, Redescription of two rare, deep-sea species of hyperiidean amphipod, Lanceola loveni antarctica Vinogradov, 1962 and L. sphaerica Vinogradov, 1970 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Hyperiidea: Lanceolidae), pp. 106-114 in Zootaxa 5067 (1) on pages 111-113, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5067.1.6, http://zenodo.org/record/5656569, {"references":["Vinogradov, M. E. (1970) New data on the amphipods Hyperiidea Physosomata of the northwest part of the Pacific. Trudy Instituta Okeanologii Akademiya Nauk SSSR, 86, 382 - 400. [in Russian; English translation: In: Bogorov, V. G. (Ed.), Fauna of the Kurile-Kamchatka Trench and its Environmen. Israel Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem, pp. 398 - 418 (1972)]","Vinogradov, M. E. (1957) Hyperiids (Amphipoda) of the Northwest Pacific Ocean. 1. Tribe Hyperiidea Physosomata. Trudy Instituta Okeanologii Akademiya Nauk SSSR, 20, 186 - 227. [in Russian; English translation: Marine Biology. Vol. 20. American Institute of Biological Sciences, Washington D. C., pp. 149 - 184 (1959)]","Vinogradov, M. E., Volkov, A. F. & Semenova, T. N. (1982) Amfipody-Giperiidy (Amphipoda: Hyperiidea) Mirovogo Okeanea. Akademiya Nauk SSSR, Opredeliteli po Faune SSSR, No. 132. Leningrad, 492 pp. [in Russian]","Vinogradov, M. E., Volkov, A. F. & Semenova, T. N. (1996) Hyperiid Amphipods (Amphipoda, Hyperiidea) of the World Oceans. Smithsonian Institution Libraries, D. Siegel-Causey, Scientific Editor, Washington D. C. and Oxonian Press Pvy. Ltd., New Delhi, 632 pp. [English translation from 1982 Russian original]","Zeidler, W. (2019) New and additional records of hyperiidean amphipods of the Infraorder Physosomata (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Hyperiidea) from the Antarctic Zone of the Southern Ocean. Zootaxa, 4576 (3), 510 - 520. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4576.3.5","Shoemaker, C. R. (1945) The Amphipoda of the Bermuda Oceanographic Expeditions, 1929 - 1931. Zoologica, New York, 30 (4), 185 - 266. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / p. 210854","Vinogradov, M. E. (1964) Hyperiidea Physosomata from the northern part of the Indian Ocean. Trudy Instituta Okeanologii Akademiya Nauk SSSR, 65, 107 - 151. [in Russian]"]}

A new strain of Bracteacoccus bullatus Fucikova, Flechtner et L.A. Lewis belonging to green algae has been isolated from forest litter at a locust plantation located in a steppe zone of Ukraine. The strain has been identified by its morphological characteristics and via a phylogenetic analysis using the 18S rDNA gene and the ITS1–5.8S rDNA–ITS2 region. The new strain has been put into the monophyletic B. bullatus clade with a high statistical support. The study of its growth and lipid accumulation rates has allowed for achieving a dry biomass and total lipid content equal to 2.31 g/L and 55.84%, respectively, after a 15-day cultivation on 3N BBM medium. The analysis of fatty acid composition of the strain has shown the prevalence of palmitic 16:0, hexadecadiene 16:2(7Z,10Z), oleic 18:1(9Z), and linoleic 18:2(9Z,12Z) acids, which comprise 91.9% of the total fatty acid content. Compared to other Bracteacoccus strains, the strain MZ–Ch32 demonstrates the maximum content of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. With allowance for its growth characteristics and fatty acid profile, the new strain of B. bullatus can be considered as a potential producer of essential linoleic or oleic acids. A balanced ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the biomass makes it possible to use the strain as a component of forage and feeding additives in agriculture.

We taxonomically examined an algal strain (Ki‐4) isolated from a dry asphalt surface in mid‐summer of 2003. The vegetative cells were solitary, covered by a cell wall ornamented with meridional ribs, and contained hollow spherical chloroplasts and a pyrenoid. The cells exhibited a high tolerance to unfavorable photo‐oxidative stress conditions, and in culture developed a reddish coloration due to the accumulation of a water‐soluble astaxanthin‐binding protein, which was identified as a novel protein in organisms. 18S rDNA and ITS2 sequence analyses revealed that Ki‐4 belongs to Coelastrella sensu lato (Scenedesmaceae), but was taxonomically distinct from other members of the genus. On the basis of its phylogenetic position and morphological features, including the structures of cell wall ribs, we identify Ki‐4 as a new algal species in the genus Coelastrella, for which we propose the name Coelastrella astaxanthina sp. nov.

The species diversity of green coccoid algae is often difficult to study using light microscopy due to their complex morphology. Algae, which have morphological and ecological similarities with the genera Bracteacoccus Tereg., Dictyococcus Gerneck, and Pseudomuriella Hanagata, are one of the most taxonomically complex examples. Often, only a comparison of nucleotide sequences allows one to carry out a reliable identification and find out the phylogenetic identity of the studied objects. Pseudomuriella belongs to the group of genetically diverse genera with a homogeneous Bracteacoccus-like morphology. The combined use of two genetic markers (18S rDNA nuclear gene and chloroplast rbcL gene), along with light microscopy and comparison of fatty acid profiles, allowed the identification of the green algae strain isolated from the soil of the artificial pine and robinia plantation in the steppe zone of Ukraine as Pseudomuriella engadinensis (Kol et Chodat) Fucikova, Rada et Lewis—the first find of the species in the flora of algae in Ukraine. Analysis of the fatty acid composition of the studied strain’s cells showed that the total lipid content in the stationary growth phase was at the level of 87.9 ± 2.1 mg/g dry cell mass, and the main fatty acids were palmitic, hexadecadienoic, ruganic, oleic, linoleic, and α-linolenic—their share accounted for 82.4% of the total amount of fatty acids.

In 2013, UNESCO classified the ‘University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia’ (Portugal) as World Heritage site. Some of the limestone monuments that compose the site, such as the Old Cathedral of Coimbra, show clear visual effects of biological colonization by cyanobacteria and microalgae. The aim of this study was to thoroughly characterize the structural diversity of the photoautotrophic community at this site, combining isolation and molecular identification with next-generation sequencing techniques. Culture-dependent approaches resulted on the identification of green microalgae belonging to Prasiolales, Chlorellales, Watanabea, Chlamydomonadales and Sphaeropleales clades, and cyanobacteria belonging to Nostocales and Synechococcales clades. Culture-independent methods using Illumina Platform resulted in the identification of 610 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs), revealing the presence of populations within phyla Chlorophyta, Cyanobacteria, Rhodophyta and Stramenopiles/Bacillariophyta. In addition, principal component analysis (PCA) and a network analysis were generated and successfully related the different populations to specific biodeterioration scenarios observed at this monument. The use of culture-dependent and -independent techniques together with PCA and network analysis allowed us to understand the distribution patterns of the photoautotrophic community among the different biofilms observed at this monument, as well as their ecological specifications. This study highlights that both cultivation and metagenomics methodologies should be employed synergistically in similar biodeterioration studies.

Reports of programmed cell death (PCD) across the taxonomic spectrum of photosynthetic unicellular organisms raise questions concerning its ecological and evolutionary roles. However, prior to ecological studies or evolutionary interpretations, it is essential to document phenotypic changes associated with PCD at the single-cell level, since death-related responses vary between taxa and within a single taxon depending on environmental stimuli. Here, we report responses to rapidly changing light, temperature and fluctuations in macronutrients in the model selenastracean green microalga Ankistrodesmus densus (Chlorophyta, Chlorophyceae, Sphaeropleales). We used stringent, but environmentally appropriate, conditions of prolonged darkness, nitrogen starvation (4 days), heat (1 h at 44°C) and cold shock (3 h at 2 ± 2°C). PCD phenotypes were examined by ultrastructural changes, phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization and DNA degradation. Flow cytometric Annexin V FITC analyses revealed that darkness and nitrogen-deprived cultures had significantly higher proportions of cells with PS externalization compared with controls (p < 0.05). Heat and cold treatments did not affect PS externalization (p = 0.44 and p = 0.99, respectively). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of light-deprived cells demonstrated, among other ultrastructural changes, marked cytoplasmic vacuolization suggesting a subtype of PCD known as vacuolar cell death. Nitrogen-starved cells had less vacuolization but presented more typical ultrastructural markers of PCD such as chromatin condensation and marginalization. In contrast, the more severe heat and cold shock treatments resulted in necrotic-like features. These findings suggest that prolonged darkness and nitrogen starvation induce PCD in a small (8.4 3.5 and 7.42 2.6%, respectively) but significant (p < 0.05) fraction of the A. densus population. Documenting these different death-related phenotypes depending on different environmental inducers is essential for interpreting ecological studies. Furthermore, our data support the hypothesis that autophagic/vacuolar cell death (VCD), which is central to organism homeostasis in plants (Streptophyta), occurs in Chlorophyta. VCD probably arose long before the evolution of multicellularity in plants. HIGHLIGHTSDarkness and nitrogen deprivation induce different programmed cell death markers in Ankistrodesmus densus;Plant vacuolar-like cell death occurs in Chlorophyta;There is crossover between the vacuolar and apoptosis-like death morphotypes. Darkness and nitrogen deprivation induce different programmed cell death markers in Ankistrodesmus densus; Plant vacuolar-like cell death occurs in Chlorophyta; There is crossover between the vacuolar and apoptosis-like death morphotypes.

Diverse algae possess the ability to recover from extreme desiccation without forming specialized resting structures. Green algal genera such as Tetradesmus (Sphaeropleales, Chlorophyceae) contain temperate terrestrial, desert, and aquatic species, providing an opportunity to compare physiological traits associated with the transition to land in closely related taxa. We subjected six species from distinct habitats to three dehydration treatments varying in relative humidity (RH 5%, 65%, 80%) followed by short- and long-term rehydration. We tested the capacity of the algae to recover from dehydration using the effective quantum yield of photosystem II as a proxy for physiological activity. The degree of recovery was dependent both on the habitat of origin and the dehydration scenario, with terrestrial, but not aquatic, species recovering from dehydration. Distinct strains of each species responded similarly to dehydration and rehydration, with the exception of one aquatic strain that recovered from the mildest dehydration treatment. Cell ultrastructure was uniformly maintained in both aquatic and desert species during dehydration and rehydration, but staining with an amphiphilic styryl dye indicated damage to the plasma membrane from osmotically induced water loss in the aquatic species. These analyses demonstrate that terrestrial Tetradesmus possess a vegetative desiccation tolerance phenotype, making these species ideal for comparative omics studies.

Diverse algae possess vegetative desiccation tolerance, the ability to recover from extreme desiccation without forming specialized resting structures. Green algal genera such as Tetradesmus (Sphaeropleales, Chlorophyceae) contain both terrestrial and aquatic species, providing an opportunity to compare physiological traits associated with the transition to land in closely related taxa. We subjected six species from aquatic and terrestrial habitats to three desiccation treatments varying in final relative humidity followed by short- and mid-term rehydration. We tested the capacity of the algae to recover from desiccation using the effective quantum yield of photosystem II as a proxy for physiological activity. The degree of recovery was dependent both on the habitat of origin and the desiccation scenario, with terrestrial, but not aquatic species, recovering from desiccation. Distinct strains of each species responded similarly to desiccation and rehydration, with the exception of one aquatic strain that recovered from the mildest desiccation. Cell ultrastructure was uniformly maintained in both aquatic and desert species during dehydration and rehydration, but staining with an amphiphilic styryl dye indicated desiccation-induced damage to the plasma membrane in the aquatic species. These analyses demonstrate that terrestrial Tetradesmus possess the vegetative desiccation tolerance phenotype, making these species ideal for comparative omics studies.

The present study is the first to investigate the evolution of morphological variability and modularity of single (marginal) cells in two-dimensional colonial (coenobial) microscopic algae. Geometr...

We tested 37 photoautotrophic microalgal strains of various taxonomic positions for their heterotrophic growth on glucose. We showed that facultative heterotrophy was quite common among certain groups of green algae (Chlorellales or Sphaeropleales) and of Xanthophyceae, whereas it was completely absent from Eustigmatophyceae. For the first time, we found heterotrophy in some members of green algae (Botryosphaerella sudetica, Bracteacoccus sp., Dictyosphaerium spp., Lemmermannia sp., Parachlorella kessleri). Of the tested facultative heterotrophs, three strains, Scenedesmus sp., Dictyosphaerium chlorelloides, and Tribonema aequale, were selected to investigate, in detail, their mixotrophic growth and production of specific metabolites, carotenoids, exopolysaccharides, and eicosapentaenoic acid, respectively. Among them only T. aequale showed significantly higher production of the target compound, eicosapentaenoic acid, under the mixotrophic cultivation mode than photoautotrophically. Together with the ease of biomass harvest, Tribonema microalgae are therefore proposed as a possible source of high-quality ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Mitogenome evolution in the Chlorophyceae is characterized by the acquisition of a reduced-derived pattern by the Chlamydomonadales + Sphaeropleales clade. Because no mitogenomes are available for the sister clade Oedogoniales + Chaetophorales + Chaetopeltidales, it remains unclear whether the common ancestor of chlorophycean green algae harbored a reduced-derived or ancestral-type mitogenome. The 70,191 and 46,765-bp mitogenomes reported here for Bulbochaete rectangularis var. hiloensis (Oedogoniales) and Stigeoclonium helveticum (Chaetophorales), respectively, shed light on this question. Both contain the same set of 41 conserved genes, a repertoire lacking numerous protein-coding genes but featuring all 27 tRNA genes typically found in ancestral-type mitogenomes.

This study identified the genus Coelastrella Chodat, 1922 which was isolated from a sediment sample taken from the Tigris river in Baghdad Governorate, Iraq. The alga was isolated and cultured in modified Chu 10 media and the morphological features of the isolated algae were observed in light microscopy (LM); it showed some characteristic features of this genus, such as its ellipsoidal or lemon- shaped cells, a visible pyrenoid and the chloroplast parietal. To ensure correct identification of the isolated alga, a molecular analysis using 18S rRNA gene and DNA sequencing revealed a match with C. terrestris (Reisigl) Hedewald & N. Hanagata 2002. This species is a new record in Iraq, and has been registered in NCBI under the accession number MH179121.

The family Radiococcaceae sensu lato, defined as colonial autospore-producing mucilaginous coccoid green algae, is widespread in terrestrial and freshwater habitats. Three species of Radiococcaceae sensu lato, including two Radiococcus species and one Planktosphaeria species, were described from China by light and electron microscopy. A new species of Planktosphaeria, Planktosphaeria hubeiensis sp. nov. was erected based on morphological comparisons and genetic analyses. Our phylogenetic analyses indicated that Radiococcaceae sensu lato is polyphyletic, and separated into three lineages. The Radiococcus species did not cluster into a monophyletic group in phylogenetic analyses; therefore the taxonomy of the genus Radiococcus should be revised in the future.

α-Linolenic acid (ALA) is an essential fatty acid which cannot be synthesized de novo in mammals and must be ingested regularly in the diet. In this study, a microalgal strain named HDMA-11 was isolated from Lake Ming, China, and was found to accumulate a high ALA content (39.2% of total lipids). Phylogenetic neighbor-joining analysis indicated that HDMA-11 belongs to the genus Monoraphidium (Selenastraceae, Sphaeropleales) and its 18S ribosomal DNA sequence seemed to be a new molecular record of a Monoraphidium species. The fatty acid profiles, biomass productivity and lipid content of HDMA-11 were also investigated in autotrophic conditions. The high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids in HDMA-11, especially ALA, make it suitable as a source of nutritional supplementation for human health. Furthermore, HDMA-11 exhibited good properties for biodiesel production, characterized by high lipid content (28.5% of dry weight), moderate biomass productivity (31.5 mg L−1 day−1) and a promising lipid profile.

Phytoplanktons were collected from various environments including small marshes, small ponds, reservoirs and brackish water from March 2017 to November 2017. In this study, five species of family Scenedesmaceae were newly recorded in Korea. The genus Desmodesmus was newly reported in Korea. The newly recorded species are Scenedesmus nanus, S. praetervisus, Desmodesmus costato-granulatus, D. lunatus and D. spinulatus. S. nanus and S. praetervisus are known to occur in freshwater, but they were found in the brackish water in this study.

Conventional identification of three coccoid green algae isolates was attempted to characterize the studied algae morphologically under compound microscope, which demonstrated confusional phenomenal convergence; all were classified microscopically as the green alga Chlorella vulgaris Beijerinck, 1890. Phylogenetic studies were conducted to settle the argument about the phenotype by studying the genotype. Genotype the promising field in advance classification by using 18S rRNA and compared to GenBank database using to search the related sequences. The determined sequences showed high a similarity to the strains registered in GenBank. Phylogenetic tree of ITS within 18S RNA were analyzed: the phylogram separated into two clusters, the first cluster included C1-ITS-Iraq and C2-ITS-Iraq and put with Coelastrella Chodat, 1922 which was well supported in bootstrap tests (86-100%), while the second cluster included C3-ITS-Iraq and put with C. sorokiniana Shihira and Krauss, 1965, which have bootstrap value 100% with the mentioned species. however, in this study, the green alga Colestrella was identified as new record genus in Iraqi freshwater belonged to the order Sphaeropleales.

The revision of the serie Desmodesmus, based on light microscopy, TEM, SEM and ITS2r DNA, allowed us to distinguish among the taxa Desmodesmus communis var. communis, var. polisicus, D. curvatocornis, D. rectangularis comb. nov., D. pseudocommunis n. sp. var. texanus n. var. and f. verrucosus n. f., D. protuberans, D. protuberans var. communoides var. nov., D. pseudoprotuberans n. sp., D. schmidtii n. sp. Keys were given for light microscopy, electron microscopy and ITS2r DNA.

Coelastrum proboscideum Bohlin, 1896 (Sphaeropleales, Scenedesmaceae, Chlorophyta) is a coenobial species with cosmopolitan distribution in diverse freshwater habitats. Coelastrum spp. are widely tested for biotechnological applications such as carotenoid and lipid production, and in bioremediation of wastewater. Here, we report the draft genome of C. proboscideum var. dilatatum strain SAG 217-2. The final assembly comprised 125,935,854 bp with over 8357 scaffolds. The whole-genome data is publicly available in the Nucleotide Sequence Archive (CNSA) of China National GeneBank (CNGB) (https://db.cngb.org/cnsa/) under the accession number CNA0014153.