Algae. 1999; 14(2): 127-132.

Effects of Acidification of Stream Water on Freshwater Algae 1. Spirogyra

Young Hwan Kim, Sang Il Choi, Wook Jea Lee

School of Life Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Korea
Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology

The effects of acidification on growth of Sprogyra spp. (S. crassa, S. setiformis and S. ternata) have been investigated under the range of pH (4.0-10.0) and temperatures (10-30℃) in the laboratory. All the filaments exposed to pH 4.0 showed abnormal morphology, such as bulging or chloroplast deterioration, after two days of incubation. However, the plants exhibited some variations in the survival rate under the culture conditions of pH 5.0-10.0. Maximum growth of S. crassa was at pH 9.0 and 25℃, S. setiformis at pH 7.0-8.0 and 20℃, and S. ternata at pH 7.0 and 25℃, respectively. Maximum elongation of filaments after 14 days of incubation were different among species: 70mm of S. crassa, 45 mm of S. setiformis and 88mm of S. ternata. In general, the plants showed decreased filament growth with decreasing pH. Our results indicated that acid water of pH4-5 greatly inhibits the growth of spirogyra spp.

Keywords : acidification, growth, Spirogyra crassa, S.setiformis, S. ternata