Calcium and Strontium as Micronutrients and Morphogenetic Factors for Scenedesmus

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Abstract
There is a morphogenetic effect of calcium on our strain of Scenedesmus. The cells acquire the spindle-like shape typically associated with this genus only in the presence of 10−3 mM Ca or higher. Additions of Ca above 10−3 mM enhance cell multiplication and, at least partly in connection with the morphogenetic effect, decrease the average cell size without changes in the percentage of dry matter. Calcium also narrows the distribution of cell sizes. There are no clear supraoptimal effects up to 2 mM Ca. Strontium has qualitative effects similar to those of calcium although quantitatively less. The growth promoting range for Sr is less than for Ca, with an optimum around 0.1 mM and supraoptimal effects at 1 mM Sr. The growth-promoting effectsof Ca2+ and the supraoptimal action of Sr2+ may be more concerned with cell division than with cell shape. The assimilation of inorganic phosphate is increased already by 10−3 mM Ca2+, with no signs of further interactions over the range tested.

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