Fottea, Olomouc, 14(1): 53–62, 2014 53

Planktochlorella nurekis gen. et sp. nov. (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta), a

novel coccoid green alga carrying significant biotechnological potential

Pavel Škaloud1*, Yvonne Němcová1, Jaromír Pytela2, Nikolay I. Bogdanov3,

Christina Bock4 & Sam H. Pickinpaugh2

1
Department of Botany, Charles University in Prague, Benátská 2, Praha 2, 12801 Czech Republic;
*Corresponding author e–mail: [email protected]
2
Key Industry Engineering s.r.o., Mojmírova 1710/15, Praha 4, 14000, Czech Republic
3
Penza Agricultural Research Institute, Penza oblast, 442731, Russia
4
Faculty of Biology, University of Essen, Essen, 45141, Germany

Abstract: Phylogenetic position, morphology and ultrastructure were investigated for biotechnologically
remarkable strain Chlorella vulgaris IFR C–111, utilized in various commercial applications. Molecular
phylogenetic analyses based on the SSU and ITS rDNA data revealed that the strain IFR C–111 forms a
distinct lineage within the Parachlorella–clade in Chlorellaceae. We describe this organism as a new genus and
species, Planktochlorella nurekis. Vegetative cells of this newly recognized species are spherical, possessing
a single pot–shaped chloroplast with starch–covered pyrenoid. Asexually it reproduces by the formation of
2–16(–32) autospores. Cell wall is composed of two layers, the outer layer containing extended microfibrillar
material. The fuzzy cell wall structure improves the buoyancy resulting in low sedimentation rate of P. nurekis.
To resolve the phylogenetic position of Planktochlorella and its relationship to the closely related genera,
nucleotide saturation present in the ITS rDNA data was reduced by four different approaches. The resulting
topologies pointed to the poor phylogenetic signal in generally utilized SSU and ITS rDNA data and the need
of sequencing other molecular markers.

Key words: biotechnology, Chlorella, green algae, nucleotide saturation, phylogeny, taxonomy,
Trebouxiophyceae, ultrastructure

Introduction data uncovered that simple morphology of these

organisms hides extensive diversity and distant relation
Microalgae are increasingly being assessed for their of traditionally defined Chlorella species (Huss et al.
potential in various industrial biotechnology platforms. 1999). According to the recent molecular phylogenetic
They have several applications from human and investigations, species having typical Chlorella
animal nutrition to cosmetics, production of high value morphology (i.e., spherical cells with single, parietal
molecules (e.g. polysaccharides, fatty acids, pigments) chloroplast including a single pyrenoid with a distinct
and biodiesel production. Due to their high growth starch envelope) belong to the Trebouxiophycean family
rate and easy cultivation, green algae traditionally Chlorellaceae, which is divided into two lineages, the
included in the genus Chlorella Beijerinck are among Chlorella–clade and the Parachlorella–clade (Krienitz
the most extensively used microorganisms in industry. et al. 2004; Luo et al. 2010). Moreover, several studies
Chlorella is commercially produced by more than 70 pointed to the close relation of Chlorella morphotypes
companies, with the world annual sales extending with various elongated or needle–shaped green algal
38 billon USD (Yamaguchi 1997). Various Chlorella genera e.g. Dicloster, Closteriopsis (Hegewald &
strains are most importantly exploited for their various Hanagata 2000; Ustinova et al. 2001; Wolf et al.
health–promoting effects (e.g. for anaemia treatment, 2002; Krienitz et al. 2004) and colonial species
anti–tumour effects, immunostimulation, prevention traditionally determined as Dictyosphaerium Nägeli
against atherosclerosis and hypercholesterolemia; and Micractinium Fresinius (Luo et al. 2006, 2010;
Merchant & Andre 2001), but they are also used Bock et al. 2010; Krienitz et al. 2010). Consequently,
as food additives, nutrition in aquacultures, and in high levels of cryptic diversity within the Chlorella
cosmetic industry (Spolaore et al. 2006). morphotype as well as the polyphyletic nature of both
However, the taxonomy of Chlorella–like Chlorella and Dictyosphaerium resulted in fundamental
species is complicated. The application of molecular taxonomic revision of these organisms, including the
54 Škaloud et al.: Planktochlorella nurekis gen. et sp. nov.

description of many new species and genera (Krienitz were grown on modified BBM agarized or liquid medium
et al. 2004, 2012; Bock et al. 2010, 2011a,b). At (Andersen et al. 2005) at 23 °C under an illumination
present, the Chlorella– and Parachlorella–clades of 5–15 µmol.m–2.s–1 provided by 18–W cool fluorescent
comprise seven (Actinastrum Lagerheim, Chlorella, tubes (Philips TLD 18W/33). The algae were investigated
using an Olympus BX51 light microscope with differential
Didymogenes Schmidle, Heynigia Bock, Pröschold
interference contrast. Microphotographs were taken with an
et Krienitz, Hindakia Bock, Pröschold et Krienitz, Olympus Z5060 digital camera.
Meyerella Fawley et Fawley, Micractinium) and Determination of sedimentation rate was performed
nine (Closteriopsis Lemmermann, Compactochlorella on three strains, Planktochlorella nurekis CAUP H 8701,
Krienitz, Bock, Kotut et Pröschold, Dicloster Jao, Wei Chlorella vulgaris CAUP H 1955, and Parachlorella kessleri
et Hu, Dictyosphaerium, Kalenjinia Krienitz, Bock, CAUP H 1901. The strains were obtained from the Culture
Kotut et Pröschold, Marasphaerium Krienitz, Bock, Collection of Algae of Charles University in Prague. The
Kotut et Pröschold, Masaia Krienitz, Bock, Kotut strains were cultivated in flasks to the late logarithmic
et Pröschold, Mucidosphaerium Bock, Pröschold phase. Each strain was represented by 5 parallel cultures of
200 ml. At the end of cultivation, cultures were thoroughly
et Krienitz, Parachlorella Krienitz, Hegewald,
mixed and allowed to sediment for 4 days. Samples were
Hepperle, Huss, Rohr et Wolf) genera, respectively collected in 24h intervals by pipetting from the surface
(Krienitz et al. 2012). layer of sedimenting cultures. After adaptation to the dark
In this study, we focused on biotechnologically for 10 minutes, samples were measured on Aquapen–C
remarkable strain Chlorella vulgaris KIEG 1904, AP–C 100 (PSI, Czech Republic) according to manufacturer
morphologically fitting the traditional circumscription instructions. To calculate the amount of dry cell biomass, the
of the genus Chlorella. This organism was originally area below the fluorescence curve, termed as fixed area, was
isolated from a plankton sample of the Nurek multiplied by the coefficient 2 × 10–6, which was determined
reservoir (Tajikistan) in 1977, and labelled as IFR by calibration. To minimize the variation of fixed area values,
each measurement of the culture was performed 8 times
C–111. Soon, the strain was recognized as a valuable
and the median value of 8 consecutive measurements was
organism for various commercial applications, calculated and taken as the valid fixed area value. In the end,
including remediation of wastewaters and polluted the percentual decrease of biomass during sedimentation
water bodies (Kruzhilin & Bogdanov 2009), feeding was calculated from both initial and actual value of dry cell
of domesticated animals (Bogdanov 2007), and even biomass in the culture. Whisker plots were calculated using
extermination of cyanobacteria, bacteria and fungi the program STATISTICA 8.0 (StatSoft, Inc., Tulsa, OK,
from aquatic environments (Bogdanov 2008). To USA).
improve growth potential, two new strains (BIN and For transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the
KIEG 1904) were raised on the basis of IFR C–111 strain CAUP H 8701 was cultivated in liquid BBM under
strain, having broader temperature growth optima and the same regime as described above. Samples were fixed for
2 hours at 5 °C in 2% solution of glutaraldehyde in 0.05 M
less nutritional demand. All three strains are involved
phosphate buffer and postfixed for 2 hours at 5 °C in 1%
in several patents issued by the Russian Federation osmium tetroxide in 0.05 M phosphate buffer and overnight
(e.g., RU2192459 C1, RU2176667 C1, RU2197438 at 5 °C in 1% uranyl acetate in methanol. After dehydration
C1, RU2370458 C2), USA (US20120225036), Czech through an ethanol series, the strains were embedded in Spurr
Republic (CZ20100157 A3) or China (CN102770019 (Spurr 1969) medium via isobutanol. Ultrathin sections, cut
A). The strain KIEG 1914 has been deposited in the with a diamond knife on an Ultracut E (Reichert–Jung), were
Culture Collection of Algae of Charles University in post–stained with lead citrate and examined using a JEOL
Prague (CAUP) as CAUP H 8701. 1011 TEM at 80 kV.
To characterize and taxonomically determine For DNA isolation, cells grown on agarized BBM
medium were scrapped of into the 2 ml tube, and centrifuged
this biotechnologically valuable organism, we
at 10 000 rpm for 2 min. 150 ml of InstaGene matrix (Bio–
investigated the morphology of both light and electron Rad Laboratories) was then added to the pellet. The cells were
microscopy and conducted molecular phylogenetic mechanically disrupted by shaking for 5 min in the presence
analyses based on the 18S and ITS rDNA sequences. of glass beads (3 mm diameter; Sigma–Aldrich) in Mixer
Molecular investigations revealed a distinct Mill MM 400 (Retsch, Haan, Germany). Subsequently, the
position of the alga within the Parachlorella–clade, solution was incubated at 56 °C for 30 min, vortex mixed
warranting its description as a new genus and species, for 10 s, and heated at 99 °C for 8 min. After vortex mixing
Planktochlorella nurekis. a second time, the tubes were centrifuged at 12 000 rpm
for 2 min, and the supernatant was directly used as a PCR
template. The sequences of the 18S rRNA gene and the ITS
region were obtained by PCR amplification using an XP
Material and Methods thermal cycler (Bioer, Tokyo, Japan). The PCR reaction in a
total volume of 20 µl contained 13.1 µl sterile Milli–Q water,
Light microscopic observations were performed on two 2 µl AmpliTaq Gold® 360 buffer 109 (Applied Biosystems,
strains. Strain CAUP H 8701 (=KIEG 1904) was acquired Life technologies, Carlsbad, CA, USA), 2.2 µl MgCl2 (25
from the personal algal collection of Nikolay I. Bogdanov. mM), 0.4 µl dNTP mix (10 mM), 0.25 µl of each primer
The strain CCAP 222/25 was obtained from the Culture (25 nM), 0.6 µl 360 GC enhancer, 0.2 µl AmpliTaq Gold®
Collection of Algae and Protozoa, Oban, Scotland (originally 360 DNA polymerase, and 1 µl DNA (10 ng.µ.l–1). The SSU
isolated from Kazinga–Channel, Uganda). Both strains rDNA gene was amplified using the primers 18S–F (5′–AAC
Fottea, Olomouc, 14(1): 53–62, 2014 55

CTG GTT GAT CCT GCC AGT–3′) and 18S–R (5′–TGA termination (genthreshfortopoterm command set to 100 000).
TCC TTC TGC AGG TTC ACC TAC G–3′; Katana et al. The wMP bootstrapping (1000 replications) was performed
2001). The ITS rDNA region was amplified using the primers using heuristic searches with 100 random sequence addition
ITS1 (5′–TCC GTA GGT GAA CCT GCG G–3′) and ITS4 replicates, tree bisection reconnection swapping, random
(5′–TCC TCC GCT TAT TGA TAT GC–3′; White et al. 1990). addition of sequences (the number limited to 10 000 for each
The amplification of the SSU rDNA and ITS markers started replicate), and gap characters treated as a fifth character state.
with an initial denaturation at 94°C for 4 min, followed by 35 The weight to the characters was assigned using the rescaled
cycles of denaturing at 94 °C for 1 min, annealing at 52/50 °C consistency index on a scale of 0 to 1 000. New weights were
for 1 min, and elongation at 72 °C for 2/1.5 min, with a final based on the mean of the fit values for each character over all
extension at 72 °C for 10 min, respectively. The PCR products of the trees in memory.
were stained with bromophenol blue loading dye, quantified
on 1% agarose gel, stained with ethidium bromide, and
cleaned with the JETQUICK PCR Purification Kit (Genomed,
Löhne, Germany). The purified amplification products were Results
sequenced using an Applied Biosystems (Seoul, Korea)
automated sequencer (ABI 3730xl) at Macrogen Corp. in Taxonomy
Seoul, Korea. Sequencing reads were assembled and edited
using the SeqAssem programme (Hepperle 2004). SSU and Planktochlorella Škaloud et Němcová gen. nov.
ITS rDNA sequence of the strain CAUP H 8701 is available
in the EMBL Nucleotide Sequence Database under accession
number HF677200. Description: Vegetative cells uninuclear, spherical,
Four different alignments were constructed for planktonic. Single pot–shaped chloroplast with starch–
the phylogenetic analyses. Initially, 37 SSU + ITS rDNA covered pyrenoid, penetrated by a bunch of thylakoids.
sequences were selected to encompass all known lineages in Asexual reproduction by autosporulation, sexual
Chlorellaceae, and aligned using the MAFFT, ver. 6 software reproduction not observed. Cell wall composed of two
(Katoh et al. 2005), under the Q–INS–i strategy. Since the layers, the outer layer containing extended microfibrillar
ITS rDNA sequences were very divergent and their alignment material. Genus differs from other genera of the family
was ambiguous even with the aim of the ITS1+2 secondary by the order of the nucleotides in SSU and ITS rRNA
structures, we eliminated poorly aligned positions by using
gene sequences.
two different methods. First, we compared the ClustalW
alignments produced under different gap opening/extension Type species: Planktochlorella nurekis, Škaloud et
penalties using SOAPv. 1.2 alpha 4 (Löytynoja & Milinkovitch Němcová sp. nov.
2001). Gap penalties were incrementally adjusted from 7 to Etymology: The genus is named according to its
17 by steps of 2, and extension penalties were adjusted from planktonic nature, associated with the low sedimentation
4 to 9 by steps of 1. Regions of instability were deleted by rate.
computing to either 70% or 90% consensus among the 36
different alignments. These alignments were concatenated Planktochlorella nurekis Škaloud et Němcová, sp.
with SSU rDNA dataset, leaving alignments comprising of nov.
2183 (70% consensus) and 2128 (90% consensus) positions,
respectively. Second, ambiguously aligned regions in the
concatenated SSU + ITS rDNA alignment were determined Description: See generic diagnosis for the general
and eliminated by the program Gblocks v. 0.91b (Castresana description. Vegetative cells up to 9.5(–11) μm in
2000). Two alignments were produced, differing by allowing diameter. Chloroplast pot–shaped, often divided into
less strict flanking regions. Resulted alignments comprised two lobes, containing a conspicuous pyrenoid. Nucleus
2202 (less strict flanking regions allowed), and 2015 (less peripherally positioned, lying in the broad chloroplast
strict flanking regions unallowed) positions, respectively. infolding. Asexual reproduction by 2–16(–32)
The amount of phylogenetic signal vs. noise in SSU and ITS autospores, slightly ellipsoidal or irregular in shape.
rDNA alignments was assessed by plotting the uncorrected Cell wall composed of two layers, the outer layer
p–distance against the corrected GTR+G+I distance using
containing extended microfibrillar material, giving the
PAUP, version 4.0b10 (Swofford 2002).
The most appropriate substitution models were
wall fuzzily appearance.
estimated using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) with Holotype: Material of the authentic strain CAUP H
PAUP/MrModeltest 1.0b (Nylander 2004). The phylogenetic 8701 is cryopreserved in metabolic inactive state at the
trees were inferred with Bayesian inference (BI) by using Culture Collection of Algae of Charles University in
MrBayes version 3.1 (Ronquist & Huelsenbeck 2003). Prague (CAUP).
2 parallel Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) runs were Type locality: Nurek reservoir, Tajikistan (38° 22′ 18″
carried out for 4 million generations each with 1 cold and N, 69° 20′ 53″ E).
3 heated chains. Trees and parameters were sampled for Etymology: The species is named after its type locality,
every 100 generations. Convergence of the 2 cold chains
Nurek reservoir in Tajikistan.
was checked and ‘burn–in’ was determined using the ‘sump’
command. Bootstrap analyses were performed by maximum
Authentic strain: CAUP H 8701.
likelihood (ML) and weighted parsimony (wMP) criteria Iconotype: Fig. 7.
using GARLI, version 0.951 (Zwickl 2006) and PAUP*,
version 4.0b10, respectively. ML analyses consisted of rapid Molecular phylogeny
heuristic searches (100 pseudo–replicates) using automatic In order to assume the phylogenetic position of P. nurekis
56 Škaloud et al.: Planktochlorella nurekis gen. et sp. nov.

Figs 1–2. Analysis of substitutional saturation. The graphs visualize the saturation of the SSU rDNA (1) and ITS rDNA (2) sequences, by
plotting corrected distances (model GTR+I+G) against uncorrected p–distances. Strong curving of saturation plot indicates the significant
saturation of ITS rDNA dataset.

we determined the ITS rDNA sequences of the strain Yet, the monophyly of the genus Dictyosphaerium was
CAUP H 8701. According to the BLAST search, the statistically supported by none of the analyses.
best hit represented the sequence of Dictyosphaerium Morphology and ultrastructure
sp. CCAP 222/25 (accession No. GQ176862), showing Both investigated Planktochlorella nurekis strains
the high level of sequence similarity (99.4% of (CAUP H 8701 and CCAP 222/25) shared the same
identical positions). Additional BLAST hits revealed morphological features (Figs 7–18). The cells were
that the sequenced strain is related to Dictyosphaerium globular, uninuclear (Figs 7, 8), asexually reproduced by
ehrenbergianum Nägeli, and thus could be attributed autosporulation. The autospores had slightly ellipsoidal
to the Parachlorella–clade (Trebouxiophyceae, or irregular shape and size of 2–3 μm in diameter
Chlorophyta). In addition, we also determined a partial (Fig. 9). They were released by irregular fracturing or
sequence of the 18S rRNA gene in CAUP H 8701. The dissolving of the maternal cell wall. The remnants of
sequenced part of the gene comprises 1746 bp, and the parental cell walls persisted in the culture. Grown
was entirely identical with the 18S rDNA sequence of on agarized BBM medium, the cells were 3.5–7(–8)
Dictyosphaerium sp. CCAP 222/25. μm in diameter, and asexually reproduced by 2–4
Analysis of saturation of the SSU and ITS autospores (Figs 10, 11). In liquid BBM medium, the
rDNA sequences showed the significant differences cells reached a size of 9.5(–11) μm; and 8–16(–32)
between these two datasets. Saturation plot of the autospores were produced per sporangium (Figs 12,
SSU rDNA (Fig. 1) showed a near–linear correlation. 13). The cells possessed single pot–shaped chloroplast
However, the saturation plot of ITS rDNA (Fig. 2) was (Figs 7, 14) that was often divided into two or several
found to level off with increasing genetic distance, lobes in mature cells (Fig. 15). There was a conspicuous
indicating the presence of nucleotide saturation. To pyrenoid covered by a starch envelope composed of
eliminate deleterious effects of substitution saturation two, rarely three plates (Figs 16, 17). Two pyrenoids
on the resulted topology, four different 18S + ITS were occasionally observed in the cells (Fig. 18).
rDNA phylogenetic analyses were conducted, varying Under the TEM, chloroplasts contained starch
by different approaches to eliminate poorly aligned grains and electron–dense plastoglobuli, either single
regions (Figs 3–6). All analyses supported monophyly or organized in groups (Figs 19, 20). A bunch of
of the Parachlorella–clade with the highest statistical thylakoids passed through the pyrenoid and the starch
support. Similarly, the analyses consistently revealed envelope (Figs 21, 22). The nucleus was peripherally
the close relation of Planktochlorella nurekis CAUP positioned, lying in the broad chloroplast infolding
H 8701 and CCAP 222/25 strains, which formed (Figs 19, 20). A large Golgi apparatus, involved in the
a distinct lineage within the Parachlorella–clade. cell wall precursors’ production, was located next to the
However, none of the analyses revealed significant nucleus (Figs 23, 24). A cell wall was composed of two
relationship between Planktochlorella and any of layers, the outer layer contained extended microfibrillar
allied genera. Moreover, the genera Dictyosphaerium, material, giving the wall fuzzily appearance (Fig. 24).
Mucidosphaerium and Compactochlorella were in
some phylograms recovered to be either polyphyletic Sedimentation analysis
or paraphyletic (Figs 3–5). Only single phylogenetic To test the proclaimed low sedimentation rate of
analysis, based on the alignment treated by the Gblocks biotechnologically valuable Planktochlorella nurekis,
program, recovered all genera monophyletic (Fig. 6). we compared its sedimentation with two closely–related
Fottea, Olomouc, 14(1): 53–62, 2014 57

Figs 3–6. Bayesian analyses of the Parachlorella–clade (Chlorellaceae), based of four different combined SSU+ITS rDNA datasets using a
GTR+I+G model for SSU rDNA and ITS2, GTR+G for ITS1, and GTR+I for 5.8 rRNA partition. Four different approaches were applied to
delete regions of instability in the alignment: (3) SOAP, 70% consensus; (4) SOAP, 90% consensus; (5) Gblocks, less strict flanking regions
unallowed; (6) Gblocks, less strict flanking regions allowed. Values at the nodes indicate statistical support estimated by three methods –
MrBayes posterior–node probability (left), maximum–likelihood bootstrap (middle), and weighted maximum parsimony bootstrap (right).
Thick branches represent nodes receiving the highest PP support (1.00). Taxonomic affiliation of species to selected genera is indicated. Species
of the Chlorella–clade were selected as an outgroup. Scale bar shows the estimated number of substitutions per site.
58 Škaloud et al.: Planktochlorella nurekis gen. et sp. nov.

Figs 7–18. Morphology of Planktochlorella nurekis; CAUP H 8701 (Figs 7–13, 15, 17–18) and CCAP 222/25 (Figs 14, 16): (7) vegetative
cell with a pot–shaped chloroplast and a conspicuous pyrenoid; (8) vegetative cell – note the pyrenoid lying in the chloroplast infolding
(arrowhead); (9) autospores; (10) young autosporangium with two autospores; (11) mature autospores; (12) a young autosporangium containing
16 autospores; (13) releasing of autospores – note the remnants of the dissolving maternal cell wall; (14) a vegetative cell with a pot–shaped
chloroplast; (15) a mature cell with the chloroplast divided into several lobes; (16) a pyrenoid envelope composed by two plates of starch; (17)
a pyrenoid covered by a starch envelope composed of three plates; (18) a mature cell – note two pyrenoids within the chloroplast (marked by
asterisks). Scale bars 5 μm.

coccoid algae, Chlorella vulgaris (CAUP H 1955) and colonies or producing spines. Komárek & Fott (1983)
Parachlorella kessleri (CAUP H 1901). Analysis of the classified these morphologically simple organisms into
dry cell biomass decrease showed significant difference the sub–family Chlorelloideae. In total, they recognized
in sedimentation of P. nurekis and two compared strains 14 genera differentiated by the cell shape, number
(Fig. 25). After 96 hours of sedimentation, the density and morphology of chloroplasts, cell wall structure,
of C. vulgaris and P. kessleri cultures decreased to 4% and the ability to form colonies. However, molecular
and 7% of the original values, respectively. By contrast, phylogenetic data did not support the relation of these
density of the P. nurekis culture decreased to 68% only, genera, clearly indicating that the relatively simple
and the green turbidity was still clearly visible by eye. morphology of coccoid autosporine algae is generally
a poor indicator of phylogenetic relationships. Indeed,
none of the genera classified by Komárek & Fott (1983)
into the sub–family Chlorelloideae was revealed to be
Discussion genetically related to the genus Chlorella (Hanagata
1998; Huss et al. 1999). Moreover, the genus Chlorella
The green algal family Chlorellaceae could serve as itself has been proved to be polyphyletic (Huss et al.
a good example of a taxonomic revolution, reflecting 1999). Only the species having a glucosamine cell
the application of modern molecular phylogenetic wall were retained in the genus Chlorella, whereas
techniques. The family was described by Brunnthaler the remaining ones were transferred into the existing
(1913) to encompass morphologically simple, or newly described genera within Chlorophyceae and
autosporine algae, often forming mucilaginous Trebouxiophyceae (Kalina & Punčochářová 1987;
Fottea, Olomouc, 14(1): 53–62, 2014 59

Figs 19–24. Ultrastructure of Planktochlorella nurekis; CAUP H 8701: (19, 20) an ellipsoidal autospore with a pot–shaped chloroplast
containing plastoglobuli; (21, 22) a detail of the pyrenoid covered by a starch envelope of 2–3 plates – note a bunch of thylakoids passing
through the pyrenoid and the starch envelope; (23) the cell in an early stage of cytokinesis, the nucleus is already divided; (24) a two layered
cell wall with extended microfibrillar material – note a large Golgi apparatus involved in the cell wall precursors production; (cw) cell wall,
(ga) Golgi apparatus, (n) nucleus, (nu) nucleolus, (pg) plastoglobuli, (py) pyrenoid, (s) starch, (se) starch envelope. Scale bars 0.5 μm.
60 Škaloud et al.: Planktochlorella nurekis gen. et sp. nov.

Fig 25. Sedimentation curves of Planktochlorella nurekis (CAUP H 8701; solid line, filled squares), Chlorella vulgaris (CAUP H 1955; dotted
line, empty circles), and Parachlorella kessleri (CAUP H 1901; dashed line, filled circles). Sedimentation rate was tested by decrease of dry
cell biomass in time. Whisker plots show 75% confidence intervals based on 5 parallel measurements.

Huss et al. 1999; Krienitz et al. 2004; Neustupa et planktonic algae (Fig. 25). This difference could be
al. 2009; Darienko et al. 2010). Currently, the genus explained by specific cell wall composition, including
Chlorella comprises 14 species differentiated by the outer layer harboring extended microfibrillar
molecular data (Bock et al. 2011a). material (Fig. 24). Increasing of buoyancy may bring
Due to the recent molecular phylogenetic significant benefits to the planktonic algae, including
investigations, the current classification of the regulation of their position within the euphotic zone,
Chlorellaceae is completely different from that of and reduction of sedimentation loss. We assume that,
classical one. The family is divided into two lineages, contrary to the closely related colonial organisms,
the Chlorella–clade and the Parachlorella–clade Planktochlorella increases its buoyancy by the cell
(Krienitz et al. 2004). The genus Planktochlorella wall structure modification. The fuzzy cell surface
is a member of the latter lineage, and represents provides significantly higher surface to volume ratio.
an additional newly described taxon within this We have still limited information on ecology and
extensively investigated group. Including the newly geographical distribution of Planktochlorella nurekis.
described genus Planktochlorella, the Parachlorella– However, except the Nurek Dam, Tajikistan, where the
clade now comprises 10 genera (Krienitz et al. 2012), species has to face extremely cold winters, P. nurekis
mainly occurring in plankton of various freshwater was revealed also in Kazinga–Channel, Uganda,
bodies. Individual species are morphologically highly where the whole year temperatures fluctuate around
similar, and their determination is generally impossible 29 °C. Extremely wide temperature valence, together
without obtaining ITS rDNA sequences (Krienitz et al. with lower sedimentation rate, may predetermine P.
2012). Most of the genera form mucilaginous colonies, nurekis to be successful in various biotechnological
composed of cells either connected by mucilaginous applications.
strands or simply covered by a common mucilaginous The newly described genus Planktochlorella
envelope. The benefits of such colonial morphology represents a typical example of wide cryptic diversity
are still discussed. One assumption is that the mucilage found within the Chlorella–like organisms. Traditional
can reduce the density of the organism and therefore discriminative morphological features, such as cell
increase the buoyancy of the cells (Reynolds 2007). dimensions, a chloroplast form or reproductive
Alternatively, the colonial morphology may serve as features cannot be applied to distinguish the particular
defence against grazing by rotifers and cladocerans genera within Chlorellaceae (Krienitz et al. 2012).
(van Donk et al. 1999). According to our morphological Similarly to other organisms characterized by simple
investigations, Planktochlorella does not form the and uniform morphology, the molecular data revealed
mucilaginous colonies, even though cultivated in that the genetic diversity in the Parachlorella–clade is
liquid medium. However, its sedimentation rate is much higher than suggested, and that different genera
considerably lower compared to other single celled have converged into almost identical morphologies
Fottea, Olomouc, 14(1): 53–62, 2014 61

(Rindi et al. 2010). Slowinski, J. B. (2002): Estimating divergence time

Our current knowledge of the diversity within from molecular data on phylogenetic and population
Chlorellaceae fully relies on sequencing of SSU genetic timescales. – Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 33:
and ITS rDNA, and subsequent analyses on the 707–740.
Bock, C.; Pröschold, T. & Krienitz, L. (2010): Two new
concatenated dataset (Krienitz et al. 2004, 2010; Luo
Dictyosphaerium–morphotype lineages of the
et al. 2006, 2010; Bock et al. 2011a, b). However, Chlorellaceae (Trebouxiophyceae): Heynigia gen.
whereas the nuclear ribosomal small subunit has poor nov. and Hindakia gen. nov. – Europ. J. Phycol. 45:
species–level resolution, ITS rDNA suffers from its 267–277.
high variability even among phylogenetically very Bock, C.; Krienitz, L. & Pröschold, T. (2011a):
closely related species. A high number of indels Taxonomic reassessment of the genus Chlorella
negatively affects the alignment accuracy. In addition, (Trebouxiophyceae) using molecular signatures
such alignments are typically very saturated, which (barcodes), including description of seven new
species. – Fottea 11: 293–312.
negatively affect the phylogenetic reconstructions
Bock, C.; Pröschold, T. & Krienitz, L. (2011b): Updating
(Moreira & Philippe 2000). Mutational saturation the genus Dictyosphaerium and description of
occurs when multiple mutations at a given site lead Mucidosphaerium gen. nov. (Trebouxiophyceae)
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number of observed differences being lower than the Phycol. 47: 638–652.
expected number of differences. Although this may Bogdanov, N. I. (2007): Biological Basis of Preventing
lead to an underestimation of observed divergence “Bloom” of the Penza Reservoir by Blue–Green
times (Arbogast et al. 2002), the effect is frequently Algae. – Penza, RIO PGSChA, 75 pp. (in Russian)
neglected. As expected from their high variability, ITS Bogdanov, N. I. (2008): Biological rehabilitation of waters. –
125 pp., Penza, RIO PGSChaA, Available from http://
rDNA sequences within the Parachlorella–clade were
www.chlorella–v.narod.ru/Sea.pdf (in Russian)
found to be significantly saturated (Fig. 2). Therefore, Brunnthaler, J. (1913): Die systematische Gliederung der
we applied four different approaches to reduce the effect Protococcales (Chlorophyceae). – Verh. K. K. Zool.
of nucleotide saturation, resulting in four topologically – Bot. Ges. Wien 63:76–91.
different phylogenetic reconstructions (Fig. 3–6). Castresana, J. (2000): Selection of conserved blocks from
Interestingly, the relationships among the genera, multiple alignments for their use in phylogenetic
and even the monophyly of some of them, differed analysis. – Mol. Biol. Evol. 17: 540–552.
significantly across these reconstructions. In view of Darienko, T.; Gustavs, L.; Mudimu, O.; Menendez, C. R.;
that, the evolution of the Chlorella–like organisms Schumann, R.; Karsten, U.; Friedl, T. & Pröschold,
T. (2010): Chloroidium, a common terrestrial
within the Chlorellaceae is still unclear. To resolve it
coccoid green alga previously assigned to Chlorella
better, other molecular markers should be sequenced, (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta). – Eur. J. Phycol.
preferably those having sufficient nucleotide diversity, 45: 79–95.
low saturation, and simple alignment process. The Fučíková, K.; Flechtner, V. R. & Lewis, L. A. (2012): Revision
rbcL gene offers all above–mentioned features, as well of the genus Bracteacoccus Tereg (Chlorophyceae,
as good discriminating power among the species and Chlorophyta) based on a phylogenetic approach. –
cryptic lineages of various green algae (Hall et al. Nova Hedwigia 96: 15–59.
2010; Fučíková et al. 2012; Škaloud & Rindi 2013). Hall, J. D.; Fučíková, K.; Lo, C.; Lewis, L. L. & Karol, K.
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organisms. It is evident that plenty of distinct lineages, Scotiellocystoideae (Chlorophyceae, Chlorophyta)
with potential biotechnological exploitation, are still and related taxa inferred from 18S ribosomal RNA
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Hegewald, E. & Hanagata, N. (2000): Phylogenetic studies
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