Effect of cadmium on the growth of Chlorella vulgaris and Stichococcus bacillaris

The growth of Chlorella vulgaris and Stichococcus bacillaris cultures in media containing from 20 to 100 mg Cd/l was studied. The examined strains were found to be highly resistant to the action of cadmium since the highest concentration of the metal used limited the production of dry weight (during 5 days of cultivation) by less than 50%. The lower production of chlorophyll a by S. bacillaris cultures in media containing from 60 to 100 mg Cd/l and 2-fold elongation of the cells point to lower tolerance of the strain to cadmium than that shown by C. vulgaris.