Effect of high temperature on growth,nitrogen fixation,and chlorophyll content of five species of Azolla Anabaena symbiosis

Summary Cultures of Azolla sp. ST-SI, A. microphylla BR-GI, A. mexicana BR-GL, A. caroliniana WT-V, and A. filiculoides BR -H were grown in N-free International Rice Research Institute growth medium in the glasshouse at 38±1 °C (day) and 25±1 °C (night) under a light intensity of 350 Em²s^–1 for 27 days. Biomass, chlorophyll contents and nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction assay) were recorded on the 19th and 27th day. For comparison the same parameters were studied in Azolla spp. under normal growth conditions at 26±1 °C (day) and 19±1 °C (night). Azolla sp. STSI and A. microphylla BR-GI had produced a larger biomass by the 19th and the 27th day of incubation than A. caroliniana WTV and A. filiculoides which showed poor growth. Under normal growth conditions A. caroliniana WTV and A. filiculoides BRH produced less biomass than the other Azolla spp. cultures tested. A. mexicana BR-GL had a higher total chlorophyll content in both incubation periods than A. caroliniana WT-V and A. filiculoides BR-H. The N content was high in Azolla sp. ST-SI, A. microphylla BR-GI, and A. mexicana BR-GL compared with the low N content of A. filiculoides BR-H and A. caroliniana WT-V. At the higher temperature (38±1 °C/25±1 °C) Azolla sp. ST-SI and A. microphylla BR-GI consistently showed a higher growth rate than A. filiculoides BR-H and A. caroliniana WTV, while the growth rate of A. mexicana BR-GL was intermediate.The study was carried out at C.F. Kettering Research Laboratory, Yellowsprings, OH - 45387, USA