Characterization of Co-Cultivation of Cyanobacteria on Growth, Productions of Polysaccharides and Extracellular Proteins, Nitrogenase Activity, and Photosynthetic Activity

Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 2017 Jan;181(1):340-349. doi: 10.1007/s12010-016-2215-4. Epub 2016 Aug 20.

Abstract

Cyanobacteria as biofertilizers are benefit to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and reestablish the ecological system in soil. In general, several strains of cyanobacteria were involved in the biofertilizers. The co-cultivation of cyanobacteria were characterized on growth profile, production of polysaccharides and extracellular proteins, nitrogenase activity, and photosynthetic activity for three selected N2-fixing cyanobacteria, Anabaena cylindrica (B1611 and F243) and Nostoc sp. (F280). After eight-day culture, the highest dry weights were obtained in F280 pure culture and co-cultivation of B1611 and F280. Higher production of extracellular proteins and cell-bonding polysaccharides (CPS) were observed in co-cultivations compared with pure culture. The highest released polysaccharides (RPS) contents were obtained in pure culture of F280 and co-cultivation of F280 and F243. Galactose and glucose were major components of CPS and RPS in all samples. Trehalose was a specific component of RPS in F280 pure culture. Based on the monosaccharide contents of CPS and RPS, F280 was the dominant species in the related treatments of co-cultivation. The nitrogenase activities in all treatments exhibited a sharp rise at the late stage while a significant decrease existed when three cyanobacteria strains were mixed. Photosynthetic activities for all treatments were determined with rapid light curve, and the related parameters were estimated.

Keywords: Co-cultivation; Cyanobacteria; Extracellular proteins; Nitrogenase activities; Polysaccharides; Rapid light curve.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cyanobacteria / growth & development*
  • Cyanobacteria / metabolism
  • Galactose / metabolism
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Light
  • Nitrogenase / chemistry
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Photosynthesis*
  • Polysaccharides / biosynthesis*
  • Polysaccharides / metabolism
  • Protein Biosynthesis*
  • Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Polysaccharides
  • Proteins
  • Nitrogenase
  • Glucose
  • Galactose