A culture system enabling in situ determination of net and gross photosynthesis, O2 evolution, N assimilation, and C2H2 reduction in cyanobacteria

Abstract

A chemostat culture system is described in which measurements of rates associated with carbon and nitrogen assimilation may be made in in situ steady-state cultures of N2-fixing cyanobacteria. Net C and N assimilations were determined from the steady-state cellular carbon and nitrogen contents and the steady-state growth rate of the cultures. O2 evolution in the light and short-term 14C assimilation were measured simultaneously in unperturbed culture cuvettes. 14C assimilation was linear with time through the origin over the 20-min sampling period, thereby providing a measure of gross photosynthesis. C2H2 reduction was measured within the culture cuvette using an open gas analysis system. Steady-state rates of C2H2 reduction were obtained within 10 min and remained constant for up to 1 h. Preliminary results showed that at similar growth rates (0.018–0.019 h−1) cultures grown on [Formula: see text] and N2 contained heterocysts, were smaller, and had higher chlorophyll contents than cells grown on NH3. Corresponding gross photosynthesis was 1.6 to 1.8 times higher than net photosynthesis in [Formula: see text] and N2-grown cells; however, for NH3-grown cells the ratio of gross photosynthesis:net photosynthesis was close to unity. These results are discussed with reference to the energetic costs associated with N assimilation in cyanobacteria.