Abstract
Utricularia inflexa Forsk. growing in a shallow lake near Dar es Salaam, Tanzania was found to be abundantly associated with blue-green algae and other microorganisms, though blue-green algae were not found in the lake water. The epiphytes occurred both on the outer surfaces of the macrophyte and inside its traps. Seven genera of the Cyanophyta were observed, amongst which Anabaena was the most abundantly and consistently associated.
Both epiphytes on the outer surfaces of the macrophyte and those inside mature traps fixed nitrogen in situ. Mature parts of the macrophyte fixed nitrogen at higher rates than immature parts, indicating the former was associated with a greater abundance of nitrogen fixers. The Utricularia-Cyanophyta association showed a nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) rate of 2012 nmol C2H4 g−1 dry weight h−1 or, in terms of lake area, of 4 500 nmol C2H4 m−2 h−1. The relative contributions of blue-green algae and bacteria were not determined.
It is proposed that the association may involve a degree of physiological interdependence and that the association has potential as a biofertilizer for rice.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Botta, S. M., 1976. Sobre las trampas y las víctimas o presas de algunas especies argentinas del género Utricularia. Darwiniana (B. Aires) 20: 127–154.
Brock, T. D., 1970. Photosynthesis by algal epiphytes of Utricularia in Everglades National Park. Bull. mar. Sci. 20: 952–956.
Bryceson, I., 1977. An ecological study of the phytoplankton of the coastal waters of Dar es Salaam. Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. of Dar es Salaam, 442 pp.
Conover, W. J., 1980. Practical nonparametric statistics, 2nd Edn. J. Wiley & Sons, N.Y., 462 pp.
Finke, L. R. & H. W. Seeley, Jr., 1978. Nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) by epiphytes of freshwater macrophytes. Envir. Microbiol. 36: 129–138.
Flett, R. J., R. D. Hamilton & N. E. R. Campbell, 1976. Aquatic acetylene-reduction techniques: solutions to several problems. Can. J. Microbiol. 22: 43–51.
Jha, U. N., M. Jha & M. Kumari, 1978. Distribution of certain species of Utricularia in relation to their habitats in and around Jamshedpur, India. Hydrobiologia 61: 225–228.
Kulasooriya, S. A., P. A. Roger, W. L. Barraquio & I. Watanabe, 1980. Biological nitrogen fixation by epiphytic microorganisms in rice fields. International Rice Research Institute (Los Baños) Research Paper Series 47: 1–10.
Kulasooriya, S. A., P. A. Roger, W. L. Barraquio & I. Watanabe, 1981. Epiphytic nitrogen fixation on deepwater rice. Soil. Sci. Plant Nutr. 27: 19–27.
Mosto, P., 1979. Algas en trampas de Utricularia oligosperma St. Hill. Boletín de la Sociedad Argentina de Botánica 18: 89–100.
Sculthorpe, C. D., 1961. The biology of aquatic vascular plants. Edward Arnold, London, 610 pp.
Silvester, W. B., 1976. Endophyte adaptation in Gunnera-Nostoc symbiosis. In P. S. Nutman (ed.), Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Plants, IBP No. 7. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge: 521–538.
Singh, R. N., 1961. Role of blue-green algae in nitrogen economy of Indian agriculture. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, 175 pp.
Talley, S. N. & D. W. Rains, 1980. Azolla filiculoides as a fallow-season green manure for rice in a temperate climate. Agronomy Journal 72: 11–18.
Venkataraman, G. S. & B. D. Kaushik, 1980. Save on N fertilizers by the use of algae on rice fields. Indian Farming 30: 27–30.
Watanabe, A. & Y. Yamamoto, 1971. Algal nitrogen fixation in the tropics. In T. A. Lie & E. G. Mulder (eds), Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Natural and Agricultural Habitats. Plant Soil, special volume: 403–413.
Watanabe, I., C. R. Espinas, N. S. Berja & B. V. Alimagno, 1977. Utilization of the Azolla-Anabaena complex as a nitrogen fertilizer for rice. International Rice Research Institute (Los Baños) Research Paper Series 11: 1–15.
West, G. S., 1907. Report on the freshwater algae, including phytoplankton, of the third Tanganyika expedition conducted by Dr. W. A. Cunnington, 1904–1905. J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 38: 81–197.
Woelkerling, W. J., 1976. Wisconsin desmids, I. Aufwuchs and plankton communities of selected acid bogs, alkaline bogs, and closed bogs. Hydrobiologia 48: 209–232.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Based on an M.Sc. thesis by G. M. Wagner submitted to the Department of Botany, University of Dar es Salaam, 1983.
Based on an M.Sc. thesis by G. M. Wagner submitted to the Department of Botany, University of Dar es Salaam, 1983.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wagner, G.M., Mshigeni, K.E. The Utricularia-Cyanophyta association and its nitrogen-fixing capacity. Hydrobiologia 141, 255–261 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00014219
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00014219