Comparison of light and dark nitrogenase activity in selected soil cyanobacteria

Frequency of heterocytes and nitrogenase activity (NA) under light and dark cultivation conditions was determined in 12 cyanobacterial strains isolated from various soil habitats. In spite of a high variability, significant differences in NA among the strains were found in response of light and dark cultivation. Relatively high NA (9.9-15.3 mumol/h C2H4 per g fresh mass) under light conditions and basal NA after 12 h of dark cultivation were detected in Anabaena, Nodularia, Tolypothrix, and I of Cylindrospermum strains. On the other hand, significantly lower NA (0.76-5.4 mumol/h C2H4 per g fresh mass) was found under light conditions in Trichormus, Nostoc and another Cylindrospermum strain; the activity completely disappeared after 12 h of dark cultivation. NA values were not directly related to the frequency of the heterocytes. The total NA of cyanobacterial colony was found to be probably independent of the number and/or position of heterocytes. Remarkable differences in NA between strains isolated from cultivated fields and strains originating from natural or non-cultivated soils were found.