Effect of shaking, incubation temperature, salinity and media composition on growth traits of green microalgae Chlorococcum sp

Abasract Biofuel derived from microalgae are considered as a highly promising next-generation fuel. Chlorococcum sp. (green microalgae) shows potential for the successful biodiesel production, where biodiesel is produced from neutral lipid content of the algae. In the present study, effect of shaking, incubation temperature, salinity and different media composition on various physiological and biochemical traits like chlorophyll, protein, carbohydrate, biomass and lipid contents of green microalgae Chlorococcum sp. were assessed. Most of the traits were found higher in shaking condition except the lipid accumulation. When isolated Chlorococcum sp. is grown at 25 C, the higher yields of lipid and chlorophyll contents were observed. The effect of various concentrations of NaCl on the isolated algal species of Chlorococcum spp. has showed increased biomass yield at 0.2mM NaCl concentration as compared to control. Initial increase of NaCl concentration from 0.0-0.2 mM decreased the lipid accumulation. The effect of culture media composition showed that BG-11 and BBM are the best suited media for the growth of this species. The present study signifies that the growth of microalgae not only depends on the temperature, light and nutrient availability, but is also highly affected by the salinity and culture media composition.