Biological characterization of a strain of Golenkinia (Chlorophyceae) with high oil and carotenoid content induced by increased salinity

The genus Golenkinia has not been studied for the production of metabolites of commercial interest. In this work, the accumulation and composition of oils and carotenoids was studied in a new isolated strain of the green alga Golenkinia sp. under salinity stress. Both the molecular and morphological characterization of the strain allowed us to identify it tentatively as G. brevispicula. As part of our morphological descriptions, we show previously unreported cellular stages. One of the most remarkable findings relates to the unprecedented observation of a reddish aplanospore stage in a Golenkinia strain resistant to desiccation. Salinity stress induced an increase in total lipids, reaching 37.2% of DW, and an increase in total carotenoids at the end of stress phase. According to the high lipid values with an equilibrated proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids and the content of carotenoids dissolved in oil droplets, the lipids of this strain could have a potential application in the nutraceutical and aquaculture feed fields. Further studies are being conducted to optimize the growth and stress conditions in order to enhance biomass, oil and carotenoid productivity.