Procedures adopted for the laboratory cultivation of Trichodesmium erythraeum

The present paper describes the procedures adopted for axenic or pure cultivation of the marine blue-green alga Trichodesmium erythraeum (Ehr.)¹ in the laboratory. Strains of T. erythraeum were isolated from the nearshore waters of the Bay of Bengal (11°29 N 79°49 E) during the pre-bloom period in March, 1965, at a depth of 9 to 12m. Modified, enriched, Erdschreiber medium was used for laboratory cultivation of T. erythraeum. A differential concentration of streptomycin 6 mg/100 ml, tetracycline 5 mg/100 ml and sulfadiazine 4 mg/100 ml was used to inhibit the microbial growth in cultures. Difficulties experienced in the initial culture stages of T. erythraeum and the necessary specific instructions employed are described in detail.