Detection of the oil-producing microalga Botryococcus braunii in natural freshwater environments by targeting the hydrocarbon biosynthesis gene SSL-3.

The green microalga Botryococcus braunii produces hydrocarbon oils at 25-75% of its dry weight and is a promising source of biofuel feedstock. Few studies have examined this species' ecology in natural habitats, and few wild genetic resources have been collected due to difficulties caused by its low abundance in nature. This study aimed to develop a real-time PCR assay for specific detection and quantification of this alga in natural environments and to quantify spatiotemporal variations of wild B.