Extracellular Polymeric Substance (EPS) Production by <i>Nostoc minutum</i> under Different Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

A study of the influence of different laboratory growth conditions on the biomass and EPS production by Nostoc minutum, a diazothophic cyanobacterium locally isolated, was carried out. Two culture media were tested, with or without NaNO3 addition, and three luminous intensities: low (4530 lux), intermediate (7300 lux) and high (9860 lux). BW3 medium was better than BG11 for N. minutum growth, with maximal values of biomass concentration (4.98 DO) and the highest growth rate (0.019 h −1 ) at 9860 lux of light intensity. A progressive increase in culture viscosity of N. minutum cultures was observed, for stirred condition and non-diazotrophic growth in BG11 medium, together with the production of maximal EPS concentration (2.485 g/L). On the other hand, the EPS production in BW3 medium was maximal in diazotrophic conditions, both for still (1.66 g/L) and stirred (2.56 g/L) cultures. The different yields of EPS reported for each condition, results in the requirement of a species-specific optimization of the cultivation conditions for the exploitation of an efficient technology for the production of N. minutum EPS.