Abstract
The cyanobiont ofCycas circinalis (identified asNostoc sp.) was isolated and its heterotrophic metabolism was studied in free culture under nitrogen-fixing conditions. Morphology, growth rate, nitrogenase activity, biochemical composition, efficiency of assimilation of organic carbon and molecular nitrogen were determined under different conditions of energy and carbon supply. The study has revealed the high potential of the heterotrophic metabolism in this symbiotic cyanobacterium. Although low rates of metabolic activities were attained under heterotrophic conditions, the efficiencies of organic carbon utilization (0.48 g cell-carbon per g glucose-carbon in chemoheterotrophy, from 0.65 to 0.74 under photoheterotrophy) and of N2 assimilation (35.0 mg N2 fixed per g glucose used in chemoheterotrophy, from 58.3 to 61.9 under photoheterotrophy) displayed by this organism were among the highest ever found in diazotrophically grown microorganisms. The isolate fromC. circinalis was able to grow indefinitely in the dark under nitrogen-fixing conditions, maintaining a well balanced biosynthetic activity and the capacity to resume photosynthetic metabolism quickly. The significance of the heterotrophic potential of this symbioticNostoc is discussed.
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Tredici, M.R., Margheri, M.C., Giovannetti, L. et al. Heterotrophic metabolism and diazotrophic growth ofNostoc sp. fromCycas circinalis . Plant Soil 110, 199–206 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02226799
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02226799