Characterization and comparisons of five N2‐fixing Azolla‐Anabaena associations, I. Optimization of growth conditions for biomass increase and N content in a controlled environment*

Abstract

Abstract Biomass increase, C and N content, C2H2 reduction, percentage dry weight and chlorophyll a/b ratios were determined for clones of Azolla caroliniana Willd., A. filiculoides Lam., A. mexicana Presl., and A. pinnata R. Br. as a function of nutrient solution, pH, temperature, photoperiod, and light intensity in controlled environment studies. These studies were supplemented by a glasshouse study. Under a 16 h, 26°C day at a light intensity of 200 μmol m−2 s−1 and an 8 h, 19° C dark period, there was no significant difference in the growth rates of the individual species on the five nutrient solutions employed. Growth was comparable from pH 5 to pH 8, but decreased at pH 9. Using the same photoperiod and light intensity but constant growth temperatures of 15–40°C, at 5°C intervals, the individual species exhibited maximum growth, nitro‐genase (N2ase) activity and N content at either 25° or 30°C. There was no difference in the temperature optima at pH 6 and pH 8. The tolerance of the individual species to elevated temperature was indicated to be A. mexicana> A. pinnata> A. caroliniana> A.filiculoides. At the optimum temperature, growth rates increased with increasing photoperiod at both pH 6 and pH 8 but N2ase activity was usually highest at a 16 h light period. At photon flux densities of 100, 200, 400 and 600 μmol m−2 s−1, during a 16 h light period and optimum growth temperature of the individual species, N2ase activity was saturated at less than 200 μmol m−2 s−1 and growth at 400 μmol m−2 s−1.No interacting effects of light and pH were noted for any species, nor were light intensities up to 1700 μmol m−2 s−1 detrimental to the growth rate or N content of any species in a 5 week glasshouse study with a natural 14.5 h light period and a constant temperature of 27.5°C. Using the optimum growth temperature, a 16 h light period, and a photon flux density of at least 400 μmol m−2 s−1, the Azolla species all doubled their biomass in 2 days or less and contained 5–6% N on a dry weight basis.