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Nitrogenase activity of the antarctic cyanobacteriumNostoc commune: Influence of temperature

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Abstract

Nitrogenase activity (C2H2 reduction) ofNostoc commune isolated from Schirmacher Oasis (Antarctica) was compared withNostoc muscorum, N. calcicola, Anabaena doliolum andGloeocapsa sp. The temperature profile of acetylene reduction (5–30 °C) forN. commune revealed (a) that the highest rate of nitrogenase activity was at 25±1 °C, (b) that it was low (69 %) in comparison withN. muscorum, and (c) that nitrogenase activity continued at lower temperatures, which was not evident for other cyanobacteria. The results suggest thatN. commune is adapted to lower temperatures in terms of nitrogen fixation.

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Kashyap, A.K., Pandey, K.D. & Gupta, R.K. Nitrogenase activity of the antarctic cyanobacteriumNostoc commune: Influence of temperature. Folia Microbiol 36, 557–560 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02884036

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