Microalgae strain improvement strategies: random mutagenesis and adaptive laboratory evolution

Random mutagenesis is a powerful tool for achieving desired, cost-effective, and sustainable algal traits for industrial production. Classical random mutagenesis combined with high-throughput screening via fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) has become the gold standard for generating strains with a high growth rate and productivity, stress tolerance, and resistance to common pests. UV light and ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) have been extensively used to generate microalgal mutants with high biomass productivity, high lipid/pigment content, and abiotic stress tolerance.