Isolation and characterization of cyanobacteria from microbial mats of the Ebro Delta, Spain

Isolation and identification of several strains of cyanobacteria from microbial mats of the Ebro Delta, Spain, are described. A series of tenfold dilutions was the first step of isolation. Self-isolation techniques, which use one or several physiological characteristics of a cyanobacterium, were applied in some cases to obtain enrichment cultures. Twelve filamentous strains were isolated and stored in axenic culture. As only a few cyanobacterial species can be frozen and revived without any cryoprotective agent, preservation of isolated strains was assayed with several cryoprotective solutions. Methanol and glycerol were not suitable as cryoprotective agents for most of the isolates. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was apparently the best cryoprotector. A new method, which used a filter paper as a growing substratum that later could be directly stored at -80 degrees C, was successfully used. A morphological study of each strain under light and electron microscopy was made to classify them. All isolated strains belong to phylum BX, Class 1, subsection III of the Bergey's manual of systematic bacteriology, 2nd ed., vol. 1. Most genera are included in the LPP group as Lyngbya aestuarii and Microcoleus chthonoplastes.