JIMENEZ VEUTHEY MARIANA, VIDAL MARIANA NAIR, CABRERA CECILIA, PARAMO JOSE, BERTONI MAXIMILIANO, BORDET HUGO FACUNDO, ANDRADE-BELGERI MARIA SOLEDAD, FLORES MARÍA LUJÁN AND ZAPATA LUZ MARINA
Abstract
Scenedesmus genus has received particular attention worldwide due to its potential biotechnological application, high phenotypic plasticity, ease of cultivation, high growth rate and high tolerance to extreme culture conditions. However, until now there has been no detailed and clear information about an efficient, reliable and economical method for isolating Scenedesmus genus from river water. Hence, this work focused on overcoming the shortcomings of each method and developed an efficient and economical isolation method for the native freshwater microalga Scenedesmus obliquus. Species was isolated using an effective combination of different techniques and the Allen and Arnon specific culture medium. The following were found to be the most adequate conditions for S. obliquus: 25 ± 1 oC growing conditions, 65 % HR, a light intensity of five 36 W fluorescent tubes, a 12:12 light-dark photoperiod and Allen and Arnon culture medium with supplemented nitrate. Microalga was identified microscopically according to taxonomic keys and molecularly by ARNr 18S ITS region analysis. Alignment results showed a 99 % identity correspondence with S. obliquus. GenBank Accession number is KC800949 and belongs to the IOAC081F strain. This study is a pioneering work for the isolation and culture of this species; it also provides technical and scientific information for native microalga culture development.