[Untitled]
- Resource Type
- Authors
- J.M. Robert; Thierry Lebeau; Y. Rincé
- Source
- Journal of Applied Phycology. 11:263-271
- Subject
- chemistry.chemical_classification
food.ingredient
Artificial cell
Scanning electron microscope
Biofilm
Plant Science
Aquatic Science
Biology
Solute diffusivity
Polysaccharide
Staining
Microbiology
food
chemistry
Chemical engineering
Extracellular
Agar
- Language
- ISSN
- 0921-8971
A study of the marine diatom Haslea ostrearia was performed in controlled culture conditions. Biofilm formation by cells grown in liquid medium was studied through macroscopic events and extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) production. Alcian blue staining and image analysis methods were used to quantify EPS production in regard to the usual pattern (lag, exponential and stationary phases) of microalgal growth. Simultaneously, an artificial immobilization of H. ostrearia cells was carried out using an agar layer. Samples from liquid medium and artificially immobilized cultures were studied in scanning electron microscopy. They revealed the structure of the entrapping material and progressive changes of the natural biofilm along culture ageing. The use of artificially immobilized cultures for solute diffusivity investigations is discussed.