| Neochloris oleoabundans | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Chlorophyceae |
| Order: | Sphaeropleales |
| Family: | Neochloridaceae |
| Genus: | Neochloris |
| Species: | N. oleoabundans |
| Binomial name | |
| Neochloris oleoabundans S. Chantanachat & H. C. Bold | |
Neochloris oleoabundans is a microalga belonging in the class Chlorophyceae. Due to its high lipid content, it has been considered as a candidate organism for cosmetics [1] and biofuel production, [2] as well as feed stock for freshwater mussels. [3]
Neochloris oleoabundans was first isolated from a sand dune in Saudi Arabia by S. Chantanachat sometime between 1958 and 1962. [4]
Neochloris oleoabundans consists of spherical cells borne singly or in irregular groups. The cell wall is thin and smooth, but may have a bump on one side. Cells are 6–22(–25) μm in diameter; each cell has is a single chloroplast which is cup-shaped to nearly spherical, with many narrow incisions; chloroplasts have one or more ellipsoidal pyrenoids covered with two or three shells of starch. It reproduces asexually via biflagellate zoospores or aplanospores. [5]
