The effect of continuous illumination and photoperiods on growth and heterocyst frequency of cyanobacterium Fischerella ambigua from Golestan province

Abstract

The effect of limited continuous irradiance and photoperiods on survival, growth and heterocyst frequencies of cyanobacterium Fischerella ambigua collected from paddy-fields of Golestan province have been studied at laboratory condition. After soil collection and culture, sample were isolated, purified, and incubated under 2μEm-2s-1 continuous irradiance with no carbon dioxide addition. The photoperiods were 2, 4, 6, 8 hours darkness each day. Survival, growth and heterocyst frequencies were studied in each treatment using optical density and chlorophyll measurements. Results showed that this cyanobacterium can survive under relatively short times of darkness (2 and possibly 4hours). The highest specific growth rate was related to 2hours dankness daily. 6 and 8hours darknesses cause relative similar results. 8hours darkness daily showed the highest degree of stress and cause sharp drop in growth. Chlorophyll production and morphological behaviors of aggregations showed unpredictable irregular fluctuations independent of photoperiods. We saw highest amount of heterocyst frequency and better regular patterns of heterocyst production at continuous irradiance but correlation between growth and heterocyst production differ completely at this condition.

Keywords

• cyanobacterium
• fischerella ambigua
• golestan
• growth
• heterocyst
• irradiance
• paddy field
• photoperiod