Chloroidium Saccharophilum (chlorophyta) from the Lake Baikal Shore (republic of Buryatia, Russia)

The article provides information about green microalga Chloroidium saccharophilum (Trebouxiophyceae) whose history of study dates back to more than 100 years. The issues of its intraspecific variability are considered. We also studied the strain of C. saccharophilum IRK–A 230 isolated from a small puddle on the southeastern shore of Lake Baikal (Republic of Buryatia, Russia). Light and electron microscopy and molecular phylogeny methods establish the species identity of the strain. The alga has an ellipsoidal cell shape, parietal chloroplast and visible pyrenoid with starch sheath; reproduction by equal and unequal autospores in even and odd numbers; the ability to form spherical cells; and accumulated yellow pigments in old non-heterotrophic cultures. The data obtained by us complement the species characteristics, and its biology and geography. The amended description of C. saccharophilum is provided.