Effects of Nitrogen and Sodium on Growth in Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Bacillariophyceae)

Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Bacillariophyceae) is a marine diatom which has been supplied as a food of bivalves. In this study, growth responses of P. tricornutum to some nitrogen sources and sodium were investigated by measuring cell number and contents of chlorophyll a in culture. In medium with nitrogen and sodium, brisk cell division occurred and maximum growth rate was respectively found in the medium with 150 mg/l of nitrate and 10 mg/l of ammonium and urea. At 10-500 mg/l ammonium and urea and 200-500 mg/l nitrate, specific growth rate decreased slightly. However, no cell division observed in sodium-deficient medium, regardless of presence or absence of nitrogen. This suggests that sodium is required for the nitrogen uptake of P. tricornutum, resulting nitrogen uptake leading to cell division. Also the upper limits of ammonium and nitrate for the growth of P. tricornutum seem to be 10 mg/l and 500 mg/l, respectively.