Species and strain selection

Abstract

The choice of the best microalgae strains is an important first step for the commercial-scale production of biofuels using algae. The diversity of the microalgae presents both an opportunity and a challenge in the selection process. For large-scale production the species and strains to be selected need to fulfill a range of criteria for efficient high-productivity cultivation (e.g. their temperature and salinity tolerance, efficiency and mechanisms of uptake of inorganic carbon, photosynthetic capacity, lipid content and quality, shear tolerance etc.), harvestability (e.g. cells size and morphology), and extractability (e.g. cell covering). A rapid approach to directed screening as well as the possibility of ‘in-culture’ strain selection and further strain improvement is discussed.