The Microalgae Chlorella

Use

• Juvenile fish food
• Supplementary food for fish and decapods
• Own food mixtures

Systematics

1. Phylum Chlorophyta (green algae)
2. Class Chlorophyceae (green algae in the narrower sense)
3. Order Chlorococcales (spherical algae without hostages)
4. Family Oocystaceae
5. » Cells singly or in small colonies
6. » Cell walls smooth, warty or with long bristles
7. » Reproduction exclusively by aplanospores (autospores: the aplanospores take on their final shape in the cell)
8. » Reproduction by autospores is typical of the family
9. Genus Chlorella
10. » Green spherical algae
11. » Cells round, membrane very thin, cells always single, chloroplast bell-shaped, eccentric vacuole
12. » Reproduction by autospores, 4 to 16 of which develop in the mother cell
13. » Distributed in all fresh waters
14. » Very small: only 5 - 10 µm
15. » About 10 species that are very difficult to differentiate
16. » Symbionts in protozoa, among others
17. Species vulgaris

Culture

• In tap water with a hydroponic fertiliser
• The culture must be aerated
• Obtained by sedimentation over several hours

For easier digestion in commercial applications. the cell wall is gently broken down (this consists of otherwise indigestible cellulose).

Literature

Dr Ingo Botho Reize, DATZ 54(2), 60 (2001). - Brief report
Dr Ingo Botho Reize, Koralle 2(8), 36 (2001).

Typical composition