P. AMSAVENI AND S. KANNAIYAN
Abstract
Cyanobacterial cultures were isolated from saline and sodic soils of Tamil Nadu. The pH and EC (Electrical Conductivity) of saline and sodic soils were 8.9, 9.8 and 3.64 dSm-1,1.23 dSm-1 respectively based on the growth and biomass production. 27 cultures were isolated from 150 soil samples. Predominant genera were Nostoc sp. (51.9%), followed by Anabaena sp. (37.0%), Westiellopsis (3.7%) Oscillatoria (3.7%) and Aphanocapsa (3.7%). Among these 27 cyanobacterial cultures, only 10 salt tolerant algal cultures were selected on screening by testing against 1000 and 2000 ppm of sodium chloride. On further screening based on the growth, biomass production and ammonia excretion three strains were found to be very efficient viz.., Anabaena- I R-52-ST1,Nostoc-BS-60-ST2 and Westiellopsis-11Z-5-ST3.