Characterization of the growth, biochemical composition, and nutrient utilization of the cyanobacterium Geitlerinema lemmermannii

• Published in: Journal of applied phycology 2015-06, Vol.27 (3), p.1177-1184
• Main Authors: Sánchez-Alejandro, Flor, del Pilar Sánchez-Saavedra, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biochemical composition; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Culture media; Ecology; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Geitlerinema; Life Sciences; Nitrogen; Nutrient removal; Nutrient utilization; nutrients; Phosphorus; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; population growth; protein content; shrimp; wastewater; Wastewater discharges; Wastewater treatment
• ISSN: 0921-8971; 1573-5176
• DOI: 10.1007/s10811-014-0416-1

Geitlerinema lemmermannii is a cosmopolitan cyanobacterium that is highly adapted to natural and artificial environments in which concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen have been altered. G. lemmermannii was detected and isolated from the wastewater discharge of Mexican shrimp cultures. Its nutrition and potential incorporation into wastewater treatment were examined in a 168-h culture in an artificial wastewater medium at two concentrations each of nitrogen and phosphorus. G. lemmermannii showed a rapid phosphorus uptake (in the first 3 h of culture), ranging from 4.75 to 6.09 pg cell⁻¹ h⁻¹. Nitrogen uptake peaked at 9 h of culture at 2.38 pg cell⁻¹ h⁻¹. The total cellular lipid, carbohydrate, and protein content changed between treatments over culture time due to differences in uptake patterns but were similar at the end of the experiment. Additionally, the population and growth rate did not differ between culture media, indicating that the robust and rapid removal of nutrients from a synthetic medium occurred by this cyanobacterium.