Isolation, identification, and chemical composition analysis of nine microalgal and cyanobacterial species isolated in lagoons of Western Greece

Abstract

In the present study, nine halotolerant microorganisms were collected from lagoons of Western Greece, successfully isolated, and maintained in laboratory cultures. Five species of Chlorophyta (Tetraselmis marina, Tetraselmis sp., Nephroselmis sp., Dunaliella sp., and Asteromonas gracilis), three cyanobacteria (Phormidium sp., Anabaena sp., and Cyanothece sp.) and one dinoflagellate (Amphidinium carterae) were identified based on morphological observations and DNA sequencing data. All the above-mentioned species have the potential for future exploitation. Their physicochemical composition analysis on dry biomass exhibited 30–50 % protein, and sufficient fatty acids accumulation, with A. carterae and Nephroselmis sp. reaching 20 and 15 % respectively. The cellular pigments of all the examined species did not exceed 5 % w/w. Interestingly, chlorophyll b accounted for 30 % of the content of the total pigments for Tetraselmis sp., Nephroselmis sp., and T. marina. Carotenoids on the other hand were found at 35 % in A. carterae. The current study paves the way for new species exploitation in terms of several valuable compounds' valorization and recovery.