Nutrient Accessibility Influences Stalk Formation in the Benthic Diatom <i>Achnanthidium minutissimum</i>
<i>Achnanthidium minutissimum</i> is a widely distributed benthic freshwater diatom. The alga can produce stalks that stick the cell to the surface and subsequently extracellular capsules developing into biofilms. Extracts of the diatom-associated bacterium <i>Dyadobacter</i>...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Phycology |
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| author | Pengyu Ji Adrien Lapointe Katja Hartenberger Dieter Spiteller Peter G. Kroth |
| author_facet | Pengyu Ji Adrien Lapointe Katja Hartenberger Dieter Spiteller Peter G. Kroth |
| author_sort | Pengyu Ji |
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| description | <i>Achnanthidium minutissimum</i> is a widely distributed benthic freshwater diatom. The alga can produce stalks that stick the cell to the surface and subsequently extracellular capsules developing into biofilms. Extracts of the diatom-associated bacterium <i>Dyadobacter</i> sp. 32 have been shown previously to induce stalk and capsule formation by the diatom. Here, we studied the impact of macronutrients on the generation of stalks induced by bacterial extracts with respect to the frequency of stalk generation and stalk lengths, using axenic cultures to avoid any additional impact of bacteria on the nutrient availability. We found that nitrate deprivation inhibited cell division of <i>A. minutissimum</i> within four days, but it did not initially affect stalk production or elongation. Silica limitation instead inhibited both stalk production and elongation. Similarly, sulfate was required for stalk formation, which was supported by the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy of <i>A. minutissimum</i> cells showing that sulfur was abundant in the stalks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-df779bb07ed349dda69fa3b02de0a090 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-9410 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Phycology |
| spelling | doaj-art-df779bb07ed349dda69fa3b02de0a0902025-08-20T02:21:46ZengMDPI AGPhycology2673-94102025-04-01521310.3390/phycology5020013Nutrient Accessibility Influences Stalk Formation in the Benthic Diatom <i>Achnanthidium minutissimum</i>Pengyu Ji0Adrien Lapointe1Katja Hartenberger2Dieter Spiteller3Peter G. Kroth4Plant Ecophysiology, Department of Biology, Universität Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, GermanyPlant Ecophysiology, Department of Biology, Universität Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, GermanyChemical Ecology, Department of Biology, Universität Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, GermanyChemical Ecology, Department of Biology, Universität Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, GermanyPlant Ecophysiology, Department of Biology, Universität Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany<i>Achnanthidium minutissimum</i> is a widely distributed benthic freshwater diatom. The alga can produce stalks that stick the cell to the surface and subsequently extracellular capsules developing into biofilms. Extracts of the diatom-associated bacterium <i>Dyadobacter</i> sp. 32 have been shown previously to induce stalk and capsule formation by the diatom. Here, we studied the impact of macronutrients on the generation of stalks induced by bacterial extracts with respect to the frequency of stalk generation and stalk lengths, using axenic cultures to avoid any additional impact of bacteria on the nutrient availability. We found that nitrate deprivation inhibited cell division of <i>A. minutissimum</i> within four days, but it did not initially affect stalk production or elongation. Silica limitation instead inhibited both stalk production and elongation. Similarly, sulfate was required for stalk formation, which was supported by the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy of <i>A. minutissimum</i> cells showing that sulfur was abundant in the stalks.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9410/5/2/13attachmentbiofilmextracellular polymeric substances<i>Dyadobacter</i>nutrient limitation |
| spellingShingle | Pengyu Ji Adrien Lapointe Katja Hartenberger Dieter Spiteller Peter G. Kroth Nutrient Accessibility Influences Stalk Formation in the Benthic Diatom <i>Achnanthidium minutissimum</i> Phycology attachment biofilm extracellular polymeric substances <i>Dyadobacter</i> nutrient limitation |
| title | Nutrient Accessibility Influences Stalk Formation in the Benthic Diatom <i>Achnanthidium minutissimum</i> |
| title_full | Nutrient Accessibility Influences Stalk Formation in the Benthic Diatom <i>Achnanthidium minutissimum</i> |
| title_fullStr | Nutrient Accessibility Influences Stalk Formation in the Benthic Diatom <i>Achnanthidium minutissimum</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nutrient Accessibility Influences Stalk Formation in the Benthic Diatom <i>Achnanthidium minutissimum</i> |
| title_short | Nutrient Accessibility Influences Stalk Formation in the Benthic Diatom <i>Achnanthidium minutissimum</i> |
| title_sort | nutrient accessibility influences stalk formation in the benthic diatom i achnanthidium minutissimum i |
| topic | attachment biofilm extracellular polymeric substances <i>Dyadobacter</i> nutrient limitation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9410/5/2/13 |
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