I have cultured a sample of Microcoleus sp.(cyanobacteria) in BG 11 liquid medium ,after 4 days brown fragments appeared which cause Microcoleus death, what are they and how could be overcomed?
I am afraid that brown fragments is not enough of a description to answer.You should examine them under themicroscope and then describe then at least shortly, whether they are structured or amorphic, whether dead cells are among them, etc. Microcoleus spp have a wide ecologicalamplitude, where did your samples come from?
One of the constituents of BG-11 medium is ferric ammonium citrate which is separately sterilized and added in the sterile medium upon cooling.If it is added in the medium and sterilized along with the other nutrients, it is likely that iron will precipitate and settles down in the bottom of the culture flasks. Due to this the medium composition changes and may not be suitable for the growth of the alga. This also gives a wrong impression of the appearance of brown fragments in the flasks.
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