Current Science

Dhanesh Kumar ¹, Petr Kastanek ², Siba P. Adhikary ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Biotechnology, Siksha-Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan 731 235, IN
2 Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague-6, CZ
3 Fakir Mohan University, Vyasa Vihar, Nuapadhi, Balasore 756 020, IN

Abstract

The biological crusts on lateritic soils, red soils and mine-waste burdened soils in the eastern region of India covering a transect of about 800 km were principally composed of sheathed cyanobacteria of the genera Scytonema, Tolypothrix and Lyngbya along with few other species of Cylindrospermum, Nostoc, Calothrix and Fischerella. Molecular phylogeny based on 16S rRNA gene sequence of these cyanobacteria along with those occurring in different habitats of four different continents formed a distinct clade, however, were clustered close to other filamentous cyanobacteria.

Keywords

Arid Soil, Biological Crusts, Cyanobacteria, Molecular Phylogeny, Morpho-Taxonomy.

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Dhanesh Kumar ¹, Petr Kastanek ², Siba P. Adhikary ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Biotechnology, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan - 731 235, IN
2 Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague-6, CZ

Abstract

Cyanobacteria and green algae are phototrophic microorganisms showing high diversity in their cellular structure in response to the environmental conditions of the niche where they occur. Production of exopolysaccharides (EPS) in response to adverse conditions is one of the important features of these organisms. EPS are present mainly around their cells/ filaments as an enveloped layer and released outside. EPS play protective functions and are important for their survival in stressed habitats exposed to radiation, desiccation and elevated temperatures. This review discusses the production, extraction and possible commercial applications of EPS produced by cyanobacteria and green algae.

Keywords

Cyanobacteria, Carbohydrate, Exopolysaccharides, Green Algae.

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