Chlamydomonas acidophila LAFIC-004 is an acidophilic strain of green microalgae isolated from coal mining drainage. In the present work, this strain was cultivated in acidic medium (pH 3.6) under phototrophic, mixotrophic, and heterotrophic regimes to determine the best condition for growth and lipid production, simultaneously assessing possible morphological and ultrastructural alterations in the cells. For heterotrophic and mixotrophic treatments, two organic carbon sources were tested: 1 % glucose and 1 % sodium acetate. Lipid content and fatty acid profiles were only determined in phototrophic condition. The higher growth rates were achieved in phototrophic conditions, varying from 0.18 to 0.82 day-1. Glucose did not result in significant growth increase in either mixotrophic or heterotrophic conditions, and acetate proved to be toxic to the strain in both conditions. Oil content under phototrophic condition was 15.9 % at exponential growth phase and increased to 54.63 % at stationary phase. Based on cell morphology (flow cytometry and light microscopy) and ultrastructure (transmission electron microscopy), similar characteristics were observed between phototrophic and mixotrophic conditions with glucose evidencing many lipid bodies, starch granules, and intense fluorescence. Under the tested conditions, mixotrophic and heterotrophic modes did not result in increased neutral lipid fluorescence. It can be concluded that the strain is a promising lipid producer when grown until stationary phase in acidic medium and under a phototrophic regime, presenting a fatty acid profile suitable for biodiesel production. The ability to grow this strain in acidic mining residues suggests a potential for bioremediation with production of useful biomass.
Keywords: Fatty acids; Flow cytometry; Heterotrophy; Lipid bodies; Mixotrophy; Ultrastructure.