FACTORS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF MICROCYSTIS AERUGINOSA KÜTZ. EMEND. ELENKIN

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Abstract
Yields of unialgal M. aeruginosa NRC-1 were increased from 685 mg dry weight in. 20 days to 1500 mg dry weight/1 in 7 days by increasing the concentrations of NaNO3, K2HPO4, and MgSO4 in the medium of Fitzgerald et al. Within the concentration range that was favorable for growth the balance between these 3 salts was not especially critical. A low K tolerance was noted that appears to depend on the ratio of NA to K in the medium. With the media used, growth was not limited by deficiencies of minor elements, Fe chelation, or any of 10 different vitamins, but was promoted by soil extract. The optimum temperature was approximately 28[degree] C; the optimum pH range was between 8 and 11. Vigorous aeration and agitation promoted growth by insuring better gas exchange and more efficient utilization of light and also, perhaps, by helping to relieve an inhibition caused by continuous leakage and/or lysis of the algal cells. Lysis was promoted by an excess of sodium (or deficiency of C) plus other unknown factors. Rapid growth with reasonably high yields was obtained under conditions which are suitable for large-scale culture operations.