Kinetics of algal transient phosphate uptake and the cell quota concept 1

Abstract
Dissolved inorganic orthophosphate (P1) uptake rates (v) were determined as a function of total cell phosphorus content (Q) in P1 perturbed axenic batch cultures of Selenastrum capricornutum and Nostoc sp. The results showed an inverse relationship between v and Q for both organisms. These findings are used to relate the cell quota concept of nutrient limited, steady state microbial growth kinetics to nutrient uptake kinetics observed in perturbed batch cultures.