1Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Allahabad-211 002.
2National Centre for Conservation and Utilization of Blue Green Algae, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-1100 12.
*Corresponding author
+Present Address: National Centre for Conservation and Utilization of Blue Green Algae, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012
The growth as dry matter accumulation, generation time and pigment profiles (chlorophyll a, carotenoids and phycobiliproteins) were studied in ten filamentous diazotrophic, heteropolar rivularian members of blue green algae under controlled laboratory conditions. Out of the total isolates examined Gloeotrichia sp. exhibited a maximum dry weight accumulation while Calothrix membranacea accumulated lowest dry weight. The specific growth rate varied amongst various genera examined and the highest specific growth rate was shown by Gloeotrichia sp.. Generation time was maximum for Calothrix javanica and minimum for Gloeotrichia sp.. The highest chlorophyll concentration was observed in Calothrix marchica var. crassa and Calothrix membranacea and lowest in Gloeotrichia raciborskii. The carotenoid production was highest in Calothrix fusca var. crassa and lowest in Calothrix elenkinii. Gloeotrichia raciborskii produced highest phycobiliproteins (89.5% of total pigments) and the lowest production was by Calothrix fusca var. crassa (63.09% of total pigments). Interestingly, all the rivularian isolates examined produced substantial amount of phycobiliproteins, a characteristic which is typical of the members of family Rivulariaceae.
Blue green algae, growth, pigments, Rivulariaceae
