Influence of Different Media on Growth and Phycobilins in a Cyanobacterium Scytonema schmidtii, Gom.

Abstract: Scytonema schmidtii was isolated from the collected soil samples from different locations of Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra state(India). Identification was carried out using morphological variation and taxonomical approaches according to Desikachary. The axenic culture of Scytonema schmidtii was obtained in the laboratory. For the biomass production, different culture media were used namely BG-11, Fogg's medium, Allen and Arnon medium, Zarrouk's medium and CFTRI medium. The biomass was harvested by filtration through double layered muslin cloth and dried using air blower. After harvesting, the biomass obtained was subjected to the growth analysis. Phycobilins were estimated by following the method described by Bennett and Bogorad . Out of the different culture media used, BG-11 medium supported the growth of Scytonema schmidtii properly as compared to other media used. Phycobilins content was found to be more in Scytonema schmidtii grown in BG-11 medium followed by the Allen and Arnon medium.

Keywords: Scytonema schmidtii, Phycobilins, BG-11, Fogg's medium, Allen and Arnon medium, Zarrouk's medium and CFTRI medium.