Indian Journal of Microbiology

Vitamin B₁₂ was found to be necessary for the growth of Chlorella kabini. Cells grown in the absence of vitamin B₁₂ were unable to release autospores. Cells precultured in vitamin B₁₂ accumulated some metabolite(s) necessary for autospore release that were sufficient for a few cycles of asexual reproduction in the absence of vitamin B₁₂. Vitamin B₂ prevented the reproductive cycle in the vitamin B₁₂ precultured cells. C. kabini was relatively resistant to growth inhibition by chloramphenicol. In fact, chloramphenicol facilitated transition of cells through the cell cycle, even in the absence of vitamin B₁₂