ON THE MASS-CULTURING OF A NITROGEN- FIXING BLUE-GREEN ALGA, TOLYPOTHRIX TENUIS

Abstract

1. A nitrogen-fixing blue-green alga, Tolypothrix tenuis, was grown in mass in order to use it as the inoculum for the field test of its effectiveness in increasing the crop yield of rice plant.
2. Culture was effected in three consecutive steps as follows: (i) preliminary shaking culture using ordinary culture flasks, (ii) stirring culture in a large aseptic tank, and (iii) outdoor culture of closed circulation system using a large flat bag made of polyvinyl sheeting. The method adopted in each culture step was descriced in detail.
3. The maximum growth rate obtained was 0.2g/lit./day in the tank culture and 7.9g/m²/day in the outdoor culture, respectively.