Molecular identification and culture trials of Eutreptiella gymnastica (Eutreptiales, Euglenophyceae)

During a survey for marine microalgal resources, we isolated a rare marine euglenoid from the coastal waters of Qingdao, China in 2009, and established a pure culture. Electron microscopic and molecular phylogenetic (18S rDNA and 16S rDNA sequences) analyses revealed a close affinity with Eutreptiella gymnastica, a bloom-forming species. Different culture conditions were monitored to understand optimal E. gymnastica growth characteristics. The optimal growth conditions in a batch culture of this isolate were 20°C, 160 μmol photons/(m2·s) of white light, and a salinity of 10–31. Nutrient experiments demonstrated that growth increased dramatically with a phosphorus concentration greater than 72 μmol/L. Understanding the effect of culture conditions on E. gymnastica may help understanding the blooming mechanism of this alga in its natural environment.