Growth of Cyclotella meneghiniana Kutz. I. Effects of temperature, light and low rate of nutrient supply

Abstract

A strain of Cyclotella meneghiniana was isolated from the River Danube. The optimum irradiance and temperature for growth were determined in batch cultures. The optimum temperature for growth was 25 °C. The estimated saturated irradiance was near 125 μE m-2 s-1. The calculated I(k) for growth and photosynthesis were 30 ± 3 and 44 ± 6 μE m-2 s-1 respectively. A continuous culture technique was used to test the growth and cell composition at the transition state between batch, nutrient sufficiency, and a low rate of nutrient supply. Algal response was characterized by high intracellular N and C with negative growth rate. At a low dilution rate (0.06 d-1), the continuous culture theory was not followed. This critical rate is characterized by low chlorophyll-a content per cell and may depend on the mode of nutrition.