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CHARACTERIZATION OF TWO CHLORELLA VULGARIS (CHLOROPHYCEAE) STRAINS ISOLATED FROM WASTEWATER OXIDATION PONDS 1
Author(s) -
Post Anton F.,
Cohen Iris,
Romem Eitan
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1111/j.0022-3646.1994.00950.x
Subject(s) - ecotype , chlorella vulgaris , chlorophyceae , biology , chlorella , photosynthesis , autotroph , botany , chlorophyll , wastewater , algae , chlorophyll a , chlorophyta , environmental chemistry , bacteria , chemistry , environmental engineering , genetics , engineering
We report here on the characterization and isolation of two ecotypes of Chlorella vulgaris Beyerinck that coexist in wastewater reservoirs. One ecotype (C1) contains high amounts of chlorophyll b , is capable of autotrophic growth, and can utilize only a few organic solutes for growth. The second ecotype (C2) contains low amounts of chlorophyll b , requires vitamin B 12 , and can support its growth with a broad range of organic compounds. Of the two ecotypes, the latter showed slower growth rates when light was the sole source of energy. Cells of C2‐type Chlorella attained higher photosynthetic activities than C1‐type cells at saturating irradiances. However, their low chlorophyll b content and lower light utilization efficiency suggest that C2‐type Chlorella contains relatively low amounts of light‐harvesting antennae, a disadvantage in severely light‐limited ecosystems like wastewater reservoirs. We hypothesize that the two Chlorella types coexist by adopting different lifestyles: C1‐type cells rely largely on their photosynthetic potential for energy conservation and growth, whereas C2‐type cells may exploit their heterotrophic properties for this purpose.