ISOLATION IN PURE CULTURE OF GREEN ALGAE FROM SOIL BY A SIMPLE TECHNIQUE

Abstract

There have been several procedures described for the isolation of green algae in pure culture, free from bacteria and molds. Among the ones most often cited are those of Chodat (3), Schramm (7), and Pringsheim (6). These methods are essentially alike. Some of the material from which the algae are to be obtained is inoculated into an inorganic nutrient solution. After incubation in sunlight and when growth is apparent, a small amount is inoculated into an agarized inorganic nutrient solution which is incubated in the light. After incubation, when green colonies appear, some of these are carefully picked out of the agar and each one inoculated into a flask of inorganic liquid media. This enrichment culture method is repeated until all the contaminating forms are eliminated. Then, instead of planting in inorganic media, the colonies dissected from the agar are planted in media containing dextrose. In case no molds nor bacteria develop and none can be found under the microscope, the culture is thought to be free from bacteria and fungi, and can be maintained in a manner similar to bacterial cultures.