Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Isolation and characterization of nonheterocystous tropical cyanobacteria growing on nitrogen-free medium

  • Research Papers
  • Published:
MIRCEN journal of applied microbiology and biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Fourteen non-heterocystous cyanobacteria were selected from a continuous waterlogged biotope on a mineral medium free of combined nitrogen. Following morphological characterization, four, nine and one of the strains respectively, were assigned to sections I, II and III of a new cyanobacterial classification. Their phenotypic properties, including growth rates, photoheterotrophy, phycobiliprotein content, antibiotic resistance and toxin production were determined. Three strains were found to harbour one to three plasmids of low molecular weight.

Résumé

Quatorze souches de cyanobactéries non-hétérocystées ont été isolées d'un biotope inondé sur un milieu minéral dépourvu d'azote combiné. Après détermination de leurs caractères morphologiques, respectivement quatre, neuf et une des souches ont été assignées aux sections I, II et III de la classification des cyanobactéries. Leurs propriétés phénotypiques telles que taux de croissance, photohétérotrophie, contenu en phycobiliprotéines, résistance aux antibiotiques et la production de toxine ont été déterminées. Trois des souches contiennent de un à trois plasmides de faible masse moléculaire.

Resumen

Mediante un medio mineral sin nitrogéno combinado se seleccionaron catorce cepas de cianobacterias no heterocísticas a partir de un biotopo permanentemente inundado. Apartir de sus carácterísticas morfológicas cuatro, nueve y una de las cepas fueron asignadas respectivamente a las secciones I, II y III de un nuevo sistema para la clasificación de cianobacterias. Se determinaron sus principales características fenotípicas, incluyendo tasas de crecimiento, fotoheterotrofia, contenido en ficobiliproteína, resistencia a antibióticos y producción de toxinas. Tres de las cepas contenían de uno a tres plásmidos de bajo peso molecular.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adolph, K.W. &Haselkorn, R. 1971 Isolation and characterization of a virus infecting the blue-green algaNostoc muscorum.Virology 46, 200–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen, M.M. &Stanier, R.Y. 1968 Selective isolation of blue-green algae from water and soil.Journal of General Microbiology 51, 203–209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asato, Y. &Ginoza, M.S. 1973 Separation of small circular DNA molecules from the bluegreen algaAnacystis nidulans.Nature, New Biology 244, 132–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourrelly, P. 1979 Les Cyanophycées, algues ou bacteries?Revue d'Algologie 14, 5–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buzby, J.S., Porter, R.D. &Stevens, S.E. 1983 Plasmid transformation inAgmenellum quadruplicatum PR-6: construction of biphasic plasmids and characterization of their transformation properties.Journal of Bacteriology 154, 1446–1450.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryant, D.A. 1982 Phycoerythrocyanin and phycoerythrin: properties and occurrence in Cyanobacteria.Journal of General Microbiology 128, 835–844.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franche, C. 1984 Isolation and characterization of a new cyanophage infecting a tropicalNostoc strain. InAdvances in Nitrogen Fixation Research, ed. Veeger, C., & Newton, W.E. p. 50. Wageningen: Martinus Nijhoff & W. Junk publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franche, C. &Reynaud, P. 1986 Characterization of several tropicalAnabaena andNostoc strains: morphological and physiological properties, plasmid content.Annales de Microbiologie de l'Institut Pasteur 137A, 179–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gendel, S., Straus, N., Pulleyblank, D. &Williams, J. 1983 Shuttle cloning vectors f cyanobacteriumAnacystis nidulans.Journal of Bacteriology 156, 148–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gleason, F.K. &Paulson, J.L. 1984 Site of action of the natural algicide, cyanobacterin, in the blue-green alga,Synechococcus sp.Archives of Microbiology 138, 273–277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gromov, B.V. 1983 Cyanophages.Annales de Microbiologie de l'Institut Pasteur 34, 43–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, D.W. &Potts, M. 1985 Host-range of LPP cyanophages.International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 35, 76–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhlemeier, C.J., Thomas, A.A.M., van der Ende, A., van Leen, R.W., Borrias, W.E., van den Hondel, C.A.M. &van Arkel, G.A. 1983 A host vector system for gene cloning in the cyanobacteriumAnacystis nidulans R2.Plasmid 10, 156–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kushner, D.J. &Breuil, C. 1977 Penicillinase (β-lactamase) formation by blue-green algae.Archives of Microbiology 112, 219–223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laddaga, R.A. &Macleod, R.A. 1981 Effects of wash treatments on the ultra-structure and lysozyme penetrability of the outer membrane of various marine and two terrestrial gramnegative bacteria.Canadian Journal of Microbiology 28, 318–324.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lau, R.H., Sapienza, C. &Doolittle, W.F. 1980 Cyanobacterial plasmids: their widespread occurrence and the existence of regions of homology between plasmids in the same and different species.Molecular and General Genetics 178, 203–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mague, T.H. 1977 Ecological aspects of dinitrogen fixation by blue-green algae. InA Treatise on Dinitrogen Fixation. Agronomy and Ecology ed. Hardy R.W.F. & Gibson A.H. pp. 85–139. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyers, J.A., Sanchez, D., Elwell, L.P. &Falkow, S. 1976 Simple agarose gel electrophoretic method for the identification and characterization of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid.Journal of Bacteriology 127, 1529–1537.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meynell, G.G. 1971 Dodecylamine in the isolation of bacterial DNA.Biochimica et biophysica acta 240, 37–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Padan, E. &Shilo, M. 1973 Cyanophages-Viruses attacking blue-green algae.Bacteriological Reviews 37, 343–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Potts, M. 1984 Distribution of plasmids in cyanobacteria of the LPP group.FEMS Microbiological Letters 24, 351–354.

    Google Scholar 

  • Potts, M., Ocampo-Friedman, R., Bowman, M.A. &Tözun, B. 1983Chroococcus S24 and Chroococcus N14 (cyanobacteria): morphological, biochemical and genetic characterization and effects of water stress on ultrastructure.Archives of Microbiology 135, 81–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynaud, P.A. 1984 Influence of pH on nitrogen fixation of cyanobacteria from acid paddy fields. InAdvances in Nitrogen Fixation Research, ed. Veger C. & Newton W.E. p. 356. Wageningen: Martinus Nijhoff & W. Junk.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynaud, P.A. &Laloë, F. 1985 La méthode des suspensions-dilutions adaptée à l'estimation des populations algales dans une rizière.Revue d'Ecologie et de Biologie des Sols 22, 161–192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynaud, P.A. &Roger, P.A. 1981a Variations saisonnières de la flore algale et de l'activité fixatrice d'azote dans un sol engorgé de bas de dune.Revue d'Ecologie et de Biologie des Sols 18, 9–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynaud, P.A. &Roger, P.A. 1981b Distribution verticale des algues et de l'activité fixatrice d'azote dans un tapis algal.Cahiers ORSTOM série Biologie 43, 67–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rippka, R. 1978 Photoheterotrophy and chemoheterotrophy among unicellular blue-green algae.Archives of Microbiology 87, 93–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rippka, R. &Waterbury, J.B. 1977 The synthesis of nitrogenase by non-heterocystous cyanobacteria.FEMS. Microbiological Letters 2, 83–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rippka, R., Deruelles, J., Waterbury, J.B., Herdman, M. &Stanier, R.Y. 1979 Generic assignments, strain histories and properties of pure cultures of cyanobacteria.Journal of General Microbiology 111, 1–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rippka, R., Waterbury, J.B. &Stanier, R.Y. 1981 Isolation and purification of cyanobacteria: some general principles. InThe Prokaryotes — A Handbook on Habitats, Isolation and Identification of Bacteria, ed. Starr, M.P., Stolp, H., Trüper, H.G., Balows, A. & Schlegel, H.G. p. 212. Berlin: Springer Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, T.M. &Kotz, K.E. 1976 The blue-green algaAgmellum quadruplicatum contains covalently closed DNA circles.Cell 9, 551–557.

    Google Scholar 

  • Safferman, R.S., Morris, M.E., Sherman, L.A. &Haselkorn, R. 1969 Serological and electron microscopic characterization of a new group of blue-green algal viruses (LPP-2).Virology 39, 775–780.

    Google Scholar 

  • Safferman, R.S., Diener, T.O., Desjardins, P.R. &Morris, M.E. 1972 Isolation and characterization of AS-1, a phycovirus infecting the blue-green algaeAnacystis nidulans andSynchococcus cedrorum.Virology 47, 105–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Safferman, R.S., Cannon, R.E., Desjardins, P.R., Gromov, B.V., Haselkorn, R., Sherman, L.A. &Shilo, M. 1983 Classification and nomenclature of viruses of cyanobacteria.Intervirology 19, 61–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, I.R., Diener, T.O. &Safferman, R.S. 1964 Blue-green algal virus LPP-1; purification and partial characterization.Science, N.Y.144, 1127–1130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simon, R.D. 1978 Survey of extrachromosomal DNA found in the filamentous cyanobacteria.Journal of Bacteriology 136, 414–418.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, A.J. 1982 Modes of cyanobacterial carbon metabolism. InThe Biology of Cyanobacteria, ed. Carr N.G. & Witton B.A. p. 47. Botanical Monographs 19. Berkeley & Los Angeles: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava, P.N. 1972 Antagonism between two species of blue-green algae. InTaxonomy and Biology of Blue-green Algae. ed. Desikachary T.V. p. 391. Bangalore Press.

  • Stanier, R.Y. &Cohen-Bazire, G. 1977 Phototrophic prokaryotes: the cyanobacteria.Annual Review of Microbiology 31, 225–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, W.D.P. 1980 Systems involving blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). InMethods for Evaluating Biological Nitrogen Fixation, ed. Bergersen F.J. p. 583. New York: J. Wiley & Sons Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, W.D.P. &Lex, M. 1970 Nitrogenase activity in the blue-green algaPlectonema boryanum strain 594.Archives of Microbiology 73, 250–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, W.D.P., Rowell, P., Ladha, J.K. &Sampaio, M.J.A. 1979 Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) — some aspects related to their role as sources of fixed nitrogen in paddy soils. InNitrogen and Rice. p. 263. Los Baños, Philippines: International Rice Research Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tandeau de Marsac, N. 1977 Occurrence and nature of chromatic adaptation in cyanobacteria.Journal of Bacteriology 130, 82–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tandeau de Marsac, N. 1983 Phycobilisomes and complementary chromatic adaptation in cyanobacteria.Annales de Microbiologie de l'Institut Pasteur 81, 201–254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waterbury, J.B. &Stanier, R.Y. 1978 Patterns of growth and development in pleurocapsalean cyanobacteria.Microbiological Reviews 42, 2–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolk, C.P. 1982 Heterocysts. InThe Biology of Cyanobacteria, ed. Carr, N.G. & Witton, B.A. p. 359. Botanical Monographs 19. Berkeley & Los Angeles: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. C. Franche

    Present address: Department of Developmental Biology, Australian National University, GPO Box 4, 2601, Canberra, ACT, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biologie des Sols, ORSTOM, B.P. 1386, Dakar, Senegal

    P. A. Reynaud & C. Franche

Authors
  1. P. A. Reynaud
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. Franche
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Reynaud, P.A., Franche, C. Isolation and characterization of nonheterocystous tropical cyanobacteria growing on nitrogen-free medium. Mircen Journal 2, 427–443 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00933366

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00933366

Keywords