The Effect of Magnesium Concentration on Growth of Chlorella

Abstract

Comparisons were made of increase in cell population, vol. of packed cells, N content and dry wt. of Chlorella vulgaris cultured in nutrient solns. containing glucose and differing in Mg concn. Mg deficiency, which appeared in the 2.8 ppm. Mg and lower - Mg cultures, arrested cell multiplication but did not interupt the synthesis of cell material. Deficiency hence resulted in greatly increased cell size. It appears that the process of cell division (or possibly, rather, cell separation) requires a larger concn. of Mg in the medium than does the production of cell material.