Hi, I have a problem with FUD44 Chlamydomonas mutant. It grows on TAP-agar plates but it dies after it is transferred into liquid medium (TAP or HSM+acetate) independent of if there is light (low, of course) or not. It is grown in Erlenmayer flasks (1/4 volume is media, 3/4 is empty space to aerate them properly) in an incubator (slowly shaked). Does anybody have experience in growing this mutant? What could be wrong?
Did not work with this particular strain, but since it grows well on the TAP slants, I would suggest that your suspension cultures are still limited in O2. The strains of this kind grow very slowly and look yellowish in the beginning. If the light is too strong they bleach very fast. Try bubbling the liquids with air or use a thin water layer (1 cm is OK). And check for possible contamination, just in case.