The study was undertaken to isolate and screen microalgae from South coast of Odisha and further see the effects of nitrate on growth and lipid accumulating ability of a selected green alga. In all ten isolates were pure cultured, which include both cyanobacteria and a green alga. An identified Chlorella sp. was found to accumulate high amount of neutral lipids in its stationary phase of growth and subsequently the effects of nitrate on its growth and lipid profile was carried out. Growth was retarded in cultures without nitrate followed by reduced biomass productivity and specific growth rate. Photosynthetic pigments like chlorophylls and carotenoids were less synthesized in nitrate deprived growth medium. Complete lipid profile analysis under normal growth conditions showed that the alga contained maximum PUFA (49.1 %) followed by saturated fatty acids (32 %) and MUFA (18.9 %). Under deprived N condition the occurrence of PUFA (43.6 %) was reduced while saturated fatty acids (36.1 %) and MUFA (20.3 %) increased to 12.8 % and 7.4 %, respectively. It is necessary to grow the organism both in nutrient optimum or deprived condition so that the alga can be used as a source of high nutraceutical compounds or biofuel.
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