Selenium: an essential element for growth of the coastal marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana (bacillariophyceae)

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · J. Phycol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-8817.1987.tb04421.x· OSTI ID:6409961

Price, N M; Thompson, P A; Harrison, P J

An obligate requirement for selenium is demonstrated in axenic culture of the coastal marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana (clone 3H) (Hust.) Hasle and Heimdal grown in artificial seawater medium. Selenium deficiency was characterized by a reduction in growth rate and eventually by a cessation of cell division. The addition of 10 M Na2SeO3 to nutrient enriched artificial seawater resulted in excellent growth of T. pseudonana and only a slight inhibition of growth occurred at Na2SeO3 concentrations of 10 T and 10 S M. By contrast, Na2SeO4 failed to support growth of T. pseudonana when supplied at concentrations less than 10 X M and the growth rate at this concentration was only one quarter of the maximum growth rate. The addition of 10 T and 10 S M Na2SeO4 to the culture medium was toxic and cell growth was completely inhibited. Eleven trace elements were tested for their ability to replace the selenium requirement by this alga and all were without effect. In selenium-deficient and selenium-starved cultures of T. pseudonana cell volume increased as much as 10-fold as a result of an increase in cell length (along the pervalvar axis) but cell width was constant. It is concluded that selenium is an indispensable element for the growth of T. pseudonana and it should be included as a nutrient enrichment to artificial seawater medium when culturing this alga.

• Research Organization: Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver
• OSTI ID: 6409961
• Journal Information: J. Phycol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Phycol.; (United States) Vol. 23:1; ISSN JPYLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALGAE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
DIATOMS
ELEMENTS
METABOLISM
NUTRIENTS
NUTRITION
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY
PLANTS
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS