Identification of Local Isolate of Microalgae Chlorella Vulgaris using Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Large Subunit (rbcL) Gene

Abstract

Identification of microalgae has relied on microscopic observation which is time-consuming and high accuracy requiring. Molecular identification provides a solution to identify microalgae accurately and quickly. This study aims to identify locally isolated of Chlorella vulgaris by using rbcL gene. The study used exploration methods. The sample was C. vulgaris obtained from the local region in Situbondo, Indonesia. C. vulgaris DNA was isolated using the kit Zymo Research Plant. The C. vulgaris DNA was amplificated by PCR using rbcL gene primer then the sequencing of the PCR product was conducted. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using the MEGA6 software. Research shows that DNA sequences were located at 593bp. After compared with the Chlorella sequences data in the GenBank using BLAST methods, it shows similarities of 88-99% and E-value of 0.0. The phylogenetic reconstruction shows that the local C. vulgaris with code STB01 was clade with another C. vulgaris, the population originates from a common ancestor. Although all population groups are separated by ecogeography. Each population was still genetically similar to short distance among populations. Molecular identification of local C. vulgaris was successfully carried out using primers rbcl and local isolate C. vulgaris have a genetic similarity of 99% with C. vulgaris in others region in the world.