Mutation of Spirulina sp. by nuclear irradiation to improve growth rate under 15% carbon dioxide in flue gas

•Biomass yield of Spirulina mutant increased by 310% after γ-ray irradiation.•The mutant was domesticated under elevated CO2 and obtained hereditary stability.•Biomass yield increased by 500% after domestication under 15vol.% CO2.•Cell ultrastructures were analysed to elucidate the improved growth rate. Spirulina sp. was mutated by γ-rays from 60Co nuclear irradiation to improve growth and CO2 fixation rate under 15vol.% CO2 (in flue gas from a power plant). Mutants with enhanced growth phenotype were obtained, with the best strain exhibiting 310% increment in biomass yield on day 4. The mutant was then domesticated with elevated CO2 concentration, and the biomass yield increased by 500% after domestication under 15vol.% CO2, with stable inheritance. Ultrastructure of Spirulina sp. shows that the fractal dimension of Spirulina cells decreased by 23% after mutation. Pore size in the cell wall of Spirulina mutant increased by 33% after 15vol.% CO2 domestication. This characteristic facilitated the direct penetration of CO2 into cells, thus improving CO2 biofixation rate.