Characterization of Chlorella Vulgaris Mutants Generated by EMS (Ethyl Methane Sulphonate)

Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) is a spherical unicellular green algae and the diameter ranges from 2 to 10 µm. C. vulgaris possess nutritional excellence because it contains various functional materials including high protein contents, chlorophyll, car- otenoid, and chlorella growth factor (CGF). In order to study effects of mutagen, ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) was used as a chemical mutagen and some mutants could be obtained. We named 2 type mutants as E14 and E24 obtained after treating with EMS. In the cell growth, growth patterns of mutants were similar to those of the wild type. Chlorophyll contents of E14 and E24 increased up to 99 and 52%, respectively compared to those of the wild type. The carotenoid content of E14 increased to 7%, but the value of E24 decreased 5% compared to that of the wild type. For the lipid contents E24 increased to 23%, while E14 decreased 12% when compared to those of the wild type. As a result, there is no difference between the mutants and wild type in the cell growth, but considering that mutants contains more physiological materials than those of the wild type, we can expect the mutants of C. vulgaris could be used as important high added-value materials.