Sodium: some effects on bluegreen algal growth

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1975 · J. Phycol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-3646.1975.00357.x· OSTI ID:7107025

Ward, A K; Wetzel, R G

The growth of heterocystous bluegreen algae in various concentrations of sodium was examined in axenic culture as well as in situ studies. Anabaena cylindrica Lemm, with no Na/sup +/ added, suffered from decreased rates of acetylene reduction, /sup 14/C assimilation, excretion of organic C as well as lower concentrations of chlorophyll a and particulate organic C compared to cultures supplied with 5, 10, and 50 mg Na/sup +/ . l/sup -1/. Sodium deficient algae released extracellularly a higher percentage of previously fixed C as organic C. No differences in any parameter measured were demonstrable among cultures grown with 5, 10, and 50 mg Na/sup +/ . l/sup -1/. High nitrate concentrations (20 mg NO/sub 3/- . /sup -1/) resulted in decreased rates of acetylene reduction and heterocyst numbers in Na sufficient and Na deficient cultures; however, decreased cellular Na content at high NO/sub 3/- levels occurred only in N deficient cultures. Higher percentages of excreted organic C occurred with increasing NO/sub 3/- concentrations in Na deficient cultures. Sodium enrichment of natural bluegreen populations with the addition of 50, 100, and 200 mg Na/sup +/ . l/sup -1/ elicited neither a stimulatory nor an inhibitory response in photosynthetic C fixation. In contrast, the addition of small amounts of Na/sup +/ (5 mg . l/sup -1/) resulted in increased C fixation. However, since the Na concentration of the lake water, at ca. 5 mg Na/sup +/ . l/sup -1/, was sufficient for growth of the bluegreens present, sodium is not assumed to be limiting under most natural conditions. No increase in in situ acetylene reduction rates occurred with additions of sodium.

• Research Organization: Michigan State Univ., Hickory Corners
• OSTI ID: 7107025
• Journal Information: J. Phycol.; (United States), Vol. 11:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALGAE
GROWTH
SODIUM
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
ACETYLENE
CARBON
CELL CULTURES
NITROGEN
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
REDUCTION
ALKALI METALS
ALKYNES
BIOMASS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
HYDROCARBONS
METALS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PLANTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SYNTHESIS
550500* - Metabolism