Strain Selection for Biodiesel Production - Biotechnological Applications of Microalgae - page 20

2003; Spolaore et al., 2006). A great deal of literature is accessible on the mass
cultivation and sustainable use of microalgae for biofuels; however, relatively few stud-
ies have focused on microalgal bioprospecting. Nevertheless, bioprospecting and the
establishment of a microalgal collection exclusively for biofuel production have not
been reported thus far. Algal bioprospecting or phycoprospecting of indigenous species
has an advantage over other methods of sourcing algae from type culture collections
and from genetically engineered organisms (Wilkie et al., 2011) (Table 3.3). Screening
native algae for species with desirable traits provides a robust biological platform for
bioresource production. This biological platform comes equipped with millions of years

TABLE 3.3
Comparison of Different Methods of Sourcing Algae

Method/Source Merits Demerits

Phycoprospecting • Vast diversity of species available

• Adapted to local climates and
outdoor cultivation
• Adapted to local wastewaters and
aquatic environments
• Adapted to local biota
• Native polycultures possible
• May provide unique traits
amenable to bioresource production
• Applicable in any region regardless
of access to culture collections
• No charge for procurement

• Screening practices must be
intensive
• Optimization may take
dedicated breeding programs
• Experiments based on
multispecies consortia difficult
to translate across laboratories

Culture collections • Recognized organisms

• Unialgal and axenic cultures
• Allows comparison between
laboratories
• Can select for organisms known to
produce lipids or high-value
compounds
• Easy handling
• Lower cost of algal inoculant

• Limited number of species
available
• Unadapted to local climates
and outdoor cultivation
• May not be able to grow on
local wastes
• Easily overtaken by native
algae in open ponds
• May invade local ecosystems

Genetic engineering • Possibility of increased lipid

productivity Production of
high-value compounds
• May simplify harvesting by
excretion of lipids or high-value
compounds Modification of traits
to increase productivity

• Limited genomic data for algal
species
• Unadapted to local climates
and outdoor cultivation
• High cost of development and
containment
• Negative public perception
• Risk of genetic transfer
• May invade local ecosystems

Source: Adapted from Wilkie et al. 2011.