Extracellular carbohydrate liberation in the flagellatesIsochrysis galbanaandPrymnesium parvum

Abstract

The production of extracellular carbohydrate has been studied in Isochrysis galbana and Prymnesium parvum in axenic culture. Increased extracellular production of carbohydrate occurred at reduced and increased salinity, low light intensity and under conditions of nitrogen starvation in Isochrysis, and in some cases appeared to be associated with the sedimentation of the cells from stagnant culture. Extracellular carbohydrate production was found to be greatest during the early and later stages in growth and dropped to a minimum during the mid-growth phase. Experiments indicated that the cells were not being damaged during harvesting of the cultures. A close similarity was found between the monosaccharide components of the intra- and extracellular carbohydrate after acid hydrolysis; both contained glucose, galactose, arabinose, xylose and ribose. It is suggested that the production of most of the extracellular carbohydrate is due to the passive release of organic matter from dead or dying cells.