CAPABILITY OF THE ALGAE CHLORELLA-VULGARIS AND SCENEDESMUS-OBLIQUUS OF UTILIZING AMINO-ACIDS AS THE SOLE NITROGEN-SOURCE

The capability of utilizing 20 amino acids and 2 amides as the sole N source for growth was studied in 2 green algae (Chlorophyceae). A comparison was made of the growth rate of algae in a mineral nutrient solution containing NO3 as the N source, with that in the same solution in which N in the form of NO3 was substituted by an equivalent N amount in the form of various amino acids. In addition to this, another series of experiments was carried out in which both culture media were supplied iwth glucose. Both algae utilize a series of amino acids in dependence of their structure (mostly 3-Ca amino acids). The growth rate of Chlorella in the presence of these sources is the same as in NO3, that of Scenedesmus even much higher. In the cultures containing glucose both algal species exhibit a higher growth rate in the media with the NO3 N source than in those with amino acids (with the exception of glycine in Scenedesmus).