Open AccessPhosphate uptake by the yeast, Rhodotorula rubra , and the green alga, Selenastrum capricornutum Printz, after phosphate additions to steady‐state continuous cultures
Author(s) -
Forshaug Braddock Joan,
Brown Edward J.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6941.1994.tb00098.x
Subject(s) - selenastrum , biology , phosphate , rhodotorula , yeast , botany , heterotroph , phosphorus , algae , steady state (chemistry) , food science , biochemistry , bacteria , chemistry , genetics , organic chemistry
We examined phosphate (P i ) uptake by two well‐characterized microorganisms: a green alga ( Selenastrum capricornutum ) and a heterotrophic yeast ( Rhodotorula rubra ). Phosphate uptake was measured in dual‐ and single‐species continuous cultures after perturbation of a phosphorus (P)‐limited steady‐state culture by additions of varying concentrations of P i . We found that, under these conditions, both organisms had very high transport rates for P i . The yeast was able to attain higher internal P concentrations than predicted from either steady‐state or from P‐starved batch culture data. Because the yeast was able to sequester and store P i more efficiently than the alga under dilute P i continuous culture conditions, co‐existence of the two organisms was ultimately controlled by the concentration of carbon available for growth of the yeast.