STUDIES ON THE KINETICS OF PHOSPHATE UPTAKE BY SOME FRESHWATER MICROALGAE -V. ANANDARAJ, SUBRAMANIAN V.V. AND V. SIVASUBRAMANIAN, POSTGRADUATE AND RESEARCH  DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY, R.M. VIVEKANANDA COLLEGE, CHENNAI  - 600 004, INDIA. - PP. 1- 9

Abstract:  The present study deals with the kinetics of PO4 uptake by three fresh water micro-algae, Aphanothece sp., Anabaena sp. and Scenedesmus sp.Anabaena sp. and Aphanothece sp. showed biphasic kinetics in uptake of phosphate.  Anabaena sp showed the lowest Ks value.  Presence of EDTA and Ca did not have any significant effect on PO4 uptake by Scenedesmus sp.and Aphanothece sp., whereas Anabaena sp. showed a slight improvement in PO4 uptake when amended with only EDTA.  Addition of Ca   did not have any effect.  Alkaline phosphatase activity was higher in cultures grown in PO4-limited media.  Significant AP activity was recorded in pellets than in supernatants of all algae.

A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE PHOSPHATE LEVELS AND PLANKTON IN A FEW SELECTED FRESH WATER BODIES IN KANCHEEPURAM DISTRICT, SOUTH INDIA. -IA. BOJARAJAN,A M. ARUMUGAM, V.SIVASUBRAMANIAN, AND V.V. SUBRAMANIAN, POSTGRADUATE AND RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY, R.M. VIVEKANANDA COLLEGE,  CHENNAI, INDIA. 1. DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS, CHENNAI -25, INDIA. - PP.11 -14

Abstract: A preliminary study on phosphate levels and the occurrence of plankton in a few selected fresh water bodies in Kancheepuram District, South India, was carried out.  Possible implication of high levels of P was discussed with special emphasis on finding out suitable control methods for manipulation and restoration of these water bodies.

STUDIES ON THE HEAVY METAL TOLERANCE OF APHANOCAPSA PULCHRA (KUTZ.)  RABENH. - V.V.SUBRAMANIAN AND V.SIVASUBRAMANIAN, POSTGRADUATE AND RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY, R.M. VIVEKANANDA COLLEGE, CHENNAI -600 004, INDIA.  - PP.15- 23.

Abstract: Aphanocapsa pulchra (Kutz.) Rabenh. a unicellular blue-green alga, isolated from a cooling tower was made unialgal  and employed for the   study. LC50 values for Cu, Cd and Zn were found.  Influence of these metals at LC50 levels on the photosynthetic pigments was also studied.  Chl a was unaffected by these metals at LC50 levels.  Whereas the phycobilins were reduced considerably.  NO3 and NO2 uptakes were not affected by the heavy metals tested.  Experiments on NR activity (in vivo) revealed that Cu, Cd and Zn had no effect on the activity of existing enzyme.    But Cd and Zn could inhibit the synthesis of NR.

STIGEOCLONIUM  KUETZING AND  SPIROGYRA LINK AS FEED SUPPLEMENT  FOR TILAPIIA  MOSSAMBICA PETERS - N. PREMILA AND   R. CHITHRA, DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY, QUEEN  MARY'S COLLEGE, CHENNAI - 600 004. - PP. 25 - 31

Abstract: Fish protein output  was evaluated under laboratory conditions, using Stigeoclonium aestivale and Spirogyra rhizobrachialis, the two pollution  indicating fresh water filamentous green algae as supplement to conventional  feed mixtures of  Tilapia mossambica Peters for a period of  35 days.  The results demonstrated an average increase of 6.2% in the total protein content of fishes fed with Stigeoclonium as the algal supplement and 3.4% in the case of

Tilapia fed with Spirogyra as the supplement, thereby indicating the possibility of substitution of traditional feed mixtures with algal meal for

Tilapia mossambica.

DEW, ITS CHEMISTRY AND IMPACT ON SUB-AERIAL MICRO-ORGANISMS - S. CHANDRA, M.D. VIJAYA PARTHASARATHY AND V. KRISHNAMURTHY, KRISHNAMURTHY INSTITUTE OF ALGOLOGY, 37, CHARI STREET, CHENNAI - 600 017. -  PP. 33 - 36.

Abstract:  The history of studies on dew chemistry is reviewed. Dew samples collected from leaf surfaces in several localities on Yercaud hills during a one year period were analyzed for potassium, ammonium   and phosphate ions and their possible role in the nutrition of epiphyllous algae is discussed.

NOTE ON OCCURRENCE OF COMPSOPOGONOPSIS (MONT.)  KRISHNAMURTHY FROM INDIA, - ABHAY SALVE AND B.B. CHAUGULE, DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY, UNIVERSITY OF PUNE, PUNE - 411 007, INDIA - PP. 37 - 38.

No Abstract

HYDRIBIOLOGY AND  PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY OF VIRAGANUR DAM, MADURAI, TAMILNADU  - A. JEYACHANDRAN AND N. KRISHNAN, DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE, MADURAI -625009. DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, MADURA COLLEGE, MADURAI - 625 011. - PP. 39 -42.

Abstract: A short-term study (October 1988 -March 1989) on certain physico-chemical factors and primary productivity of Viraganur dam, Madurai revealed that the water body remains alkaline with low dissolved oxygen.  Nitrate, nitrite and phosphate contents were found to be high, suggesting a eutrophic status of the system.  Moderate water temperature, alkaline pH and high phosphate favour the growth of a variety of phytoplanktons.  Quantitative data on photosynthetic pigments and primary productivity are also presented.

TEMPERATURE DEPENDANCY OF THE CYANOBACTERIUM MASTIGOCLADUS LAMINOSUS FROM HOTSPRINGS - S.P. ADHIKARY AND JAYANTI K. SAHU  P.G. DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY, UTKAL UNIVERSITY, BHUBANESWAR 751 004, ORISSA, DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY, BHADRAK COLLEGE, BHADRAK, ORISSA - PP 43 - 48.

Abstract: Temperature dependency of the thermophilic cyanobacteriun Mastigocladus laminosus isolated from Taptapani hot spring of Orissa was studied. Maximum growth and branching development of the organism was observed at 45 Deg.C in the laboratory culture.  Photosynthetic   oxygen evolution in the cells of the cyanobacterium was also active at high temperature and optimum temperature agreed with that of its growth.   The growth and photosynthetic activities were low at suboptimal temperatures and irreversibly inactivated at temperature above 60 Deg.C.  Unlike mesophilic cyanobacteria, the organism flourishing in the thermal springs at high temperature did not posses any adaptive morphological features suggesting that thermophilic cyanobacteria are qualitatively different from the mesophiles, the former groups being evolved in their specialized natural habitat of great antiquity meeting the challenges of high temperature.

THE STATUS OF MARINE ALGAE AROUND THE COASTS OF INDIA, V. KRISHNAMURTHY - PP. 49 - 63.