Growth Studies on Polytomella agilis,

Abstract

The nutritional requirements of a strain were investigated. Ethanol, butanol, acetate, pro-pionate or butyrate were utilized as C sources and glutamine was adequate as a sole source of N. Thiamine and vit. B12 were stimulatory. A simplified medium, adequate for continuous subculture of this organism, consists of 2 ml. ethanol, 100 mg. glutamine, 1 mg. thiamine, 6 [mu]g. vit B12, 0.5 g. Na2HPO4, 0.5 g. KH2PO4, 3.75 mg. MgSO4.7H2O, 20 mg. MgCl2.6H2), 18.75 mg. CaCl2.2H2O,0.3mg. FeCl3.6H2O, 0.01 mg. MnCl2.4H2O, 0.01 mg. ZnCl2, and 1 liter H2O; pH 6.8. The heat sterilized medium supports growth of P. agilis, Euglena gracilis, E. g. var. bacillaris, andP. satura.