A preliminary investigation on the growth requirement for monovalent cations, divalent cations and medium ionic strength of marine actinomycete Salinispora

In this paper, we report that three species of Salinispora, S. arenicola, S. tropica, and S. pacifica, require magnesium and calcium, for growth, with S. pacifica having the most stringent growth requirement for these ions. Interaction between these ions in supporting the growth of Salinispora was observed. We also demonstrated that the absolute requirement of sodium to support the growth of Salinispora has not been established as all three species of Salinispora can use either potassium or lithium to replace sodium to support maximum growth. While lithium can replace sodium to support maximum growth of Salinispora, it is more toxic to S. arenicola than S. tropica and S. pacifica, inhibiting the growth of S. arenicola at 189 mM but without effect on the growth of S. tropica and S. pacifica. Using both sodium chloride-based and lithium chloride-based media, we showed that Salinispora has a growth requirement for divalent ions, magnesium and calcium as well as growth requirement for ionic strength (8.29 to 15.2 mS/cm). S. arenicola has a lower growth requirement for ionic strength than S. tropica and S. pacifica.