| Summary: | Bioprospection of novel autochthonous strains is key to the successful industrial-scale production of microalgal biomass. A novel <i>Chlorococcum</i> strain was recently isolated from a pond inside the industrial production facility of Allmicroalgae (Leiria, Portugal). Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene sequences suggests that this isolate is a novel, free-living <i>Oophila amblystomatis</i> strain. However, as our phylogenetic data strongly suggests that the aforementioned taxon belongs to the genus <i>Chlorococcum,</i> it is here proposed to rename this species as <i>Chlorococcum amblystomatis</i>. In order to characterize the biotechnological potential of this novel isolate, growth performance and biochemical composition were evaluated from the pilot (2.5-m<sup>3</sup>) to industrial (10-m<sup>3</sup>) scale. The highest maximum areal productivity (36.56 g·m<sup>−2</sup>·day<sup>−1</sup>) was reached in a 10-m<sup>3</sup> tubular photobioreactor (PBR), as compared to that obtained in a 2.5-m<sup>3</sup> PBR (26.75 g·m<sup>−2</sup>·day<sup>−1</sup>). <i>Chlorococcum amblystomatis</i> displayed high protein content (48%–56% dry weight (DW)) and moderate levels of total lipids (18%–31% DW), carbohydrates (6%–18% DW) and ashes (9%–16% DW). Furthermore, the lipid profile was dominated by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The highest pigment contents were obtained in the 2.5-m<sup>3</sup> PBR, where total chlorophylls accounted for 40.24 mg·g<sup>−1</sup> DW, followed by lutein with 5.37 mg·g<sup>−1</sup> DW. Overall, this free-living <i>Chlorococcum amblystomatis</i> strain shows great potential for nutritional applications, coupling a promising growth performance with a high protein content as well as relevant amounts of PUFAs, chlorophyll, and carotenoids.
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