The green microalga strain, Botryococcus braunii KMITL 2, was isolated from a freshwater reservoir in central
Thailand, and the effects of light, nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, cultivation time and salinity on lipid
production were studied by varying parameters one at a time. When cultured in Chlorella medium containing
222 mg L 1 phosphorus (PO34—P) under continuous illumination of 200 lEm with a salinity of 0 psu, a maximum lipid content of 54.69 ± 3.13% was obtained. Its high lipid content makes strain KMITL 2 a potential source for biodiesel production in tropical regions.