Evidence for mixotrophy in pico‐chlorophytes from a new Picochlorum (Trebouxiophyceae) strain

作者：Mengwen Pang, Kailin Liu, Hongbin Liu · 发表于：Journal of Phycology · 年份：2021 · DOI：10.1111/jpy.13218 · 被引用次数：31 · 研究领域：Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology、Marine and coastal ecosystems、Protist diversity and phylogeny

Mixotrophs are increasingly recognized for their wide distribution in aquatic ecosystems and significant contributions to biogeochemical cycling. Many taxa within the phyla Chrysophyta, Cryptophyta, and Haptophyta are capable of phago-mixotrophy, however, phagotrophy in the Chlorophyta remains controversial due to insufficient research and solid evidence. In this study, we identified a new strain, Picochlorum sp. GLMF1 (Trebouxiophyceae), using 18S rRNA gene analysis and morphological observations. It displayed multi-cell division through autosporulation (two- or four-cell daughters) and has two unequal flagella that have never been reported in the genus Picochlorum. By using multiple methods, including 3D bioimaging analysis, acidic food vacuole-like compartment staining, and prey reduction calculation, we discovered and confirmed bacterivory in Picochlorum, which provided strong evidence for phago-mixotrophy in this green alga. In addition, we found that Picochlorum sp. GLMF1 cannot grow under complete darkness or prey-depleted conditions, suggesting that both light and bacteria are indispensable for this strain, and its mixotrophic nutrition mode is obligate. Like other phago-phototrophs, Picochlorum sp. GLMF1 is capable of regulating their growth and ingestion rates according to light intensity and inorganic nutrient concentration. The confirmation of mixotrophy in this Picochlorum strain advances our understanding of the trophic roles of green algae, as well as the photo...