Abstract
The planktonie diatoms, Asterionella formosa Kütz. and Synedra acus Hass., were cultivated in 96-well flat-bottom plastic plates with 100 μL of medium per well. At regular time intervals, cells were counted using an inverted microscope. Typically, the number of cells per well increased over 10 days from 50-200 to >1000. The first growth inhibition experiments were successfully run at room temperature using natural illumination. However, for better control of the growth conditions, a special micro-incubator was manufactured. This device hosted two incubation plates and was equipped with Peltier elements for cooling below room temperature, and a small luminescent lamp. For automatic counting, two digital micro-photographs of each well were taken, first at a 0.2 msec exposure and the second at a 5 msec exposure. The images were treated by means of custom software based on ImagePro to identify and count the diatom cells. Cultivation of diatoms on the micro-scale proved to be a convenient technique. Using this technique, we were able to study the effects of mercaptoethanol, Cu2+ on A. formosa and Cu2+, Hg2+, Cd2+ and phenanthroline upon the growth of S. acus.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
