simple method to preserve algal spores of Ulva spp. in cold storage with ampicillin

• Published in: Hydrobiologia 2007-11, Vol.592 (1), p.399-404
• Main Authors: Bhattarai, Hari Datta, Paudel, Babita, Hong, Yong-Ki, Shin, Hyun Woung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algae; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; cold stress; Cryo-injury; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Spore preservation; Synecology; Ulva; Ulva fasciata; Ulva pertusa
• ISSN: 0018-8158; 1573-5117
• DOI: 10.1007/s10750-007-0777-4

Preservation of algal spores of the green seaweed Ulva fasciata and U. pertusa was enhanced by the addition of ampicillin in f/2 medium at 4°C. The viability of preserved spores was determined by a spore germination assay at various time intervals. The germination rate of U. fasciata remained at 5% to 38% for the first five days, dropping to 1% to 6% on the 10th day of storage with various preservation treatments without ampicillin at 4°C during parameter-selecting experiments. In f/2 medium, 53% of U. fasciata spores were still viable on day 5 and 23% on day 10 at 4°C. By adding 100 μg mL-¹ ampicillin to f/2 medium, 90% of the spores were viable at day 40 and 61% after 100 days of storage at 4°C. Spores of U. pertusa had lower preservation rates, with viabilities of 70% at day 40 and 32% at day 100. Algal spore preservation was heavily dependent on the bacterial contamination and subsequent degradation in stock solutions.