Abstract
Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the special problems associated with thermophilic cyanobacteria. Thermophilic cyanobacteria have been used in a number of biochemical studies. Preparations of highly active O 2 -evolving photosystem II particles from Phormidium laminosum and and Synechococcus sp. have been especially successful. Thermophilic cyanobacteria, arbitrarily defined, are those that grow well or best above 45°. The upper temperature limit worldwide appears to be about 73-74°. In going from 45 to 74° there are progressively fewer species or strains capable of growth. Strains that will grow within this range occur usually or strictly in geothermal springs with pH levels above about 4.5. Few strains occur below pH 6.0, and culturing these has been difficult at this low a pH. Thermophilic cyanobacteria may also be present in nongeothermal environments such as desert soils and rocks, intertidal flats and sabkhas, tropical ponds and pools, cliff faces, and other habitats where temperatures often reach the 40-50 ° range. The most striking feature of collected specimens of thermophilic cyanobacteria is their refractory nature with regard to decomposition. Both feral material from hot spring mats and axenic or nonaxenic cells from cultures do not deteriorate or die over many days or weeks if kept in darkness at room temperature or as low as 12-14°, at least when uncrowded in spring water or culture medium.
Published Version
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