부산대학교 도서관

The terrestrial cyanobacterium Nostoc commune is desiccation-tolerant, and is believed to be a cosmopolitan species adapted to extraordinary environmental conditions. Genetic diversity in N. commune was characterized using 16S rDNA sequences; three genetic types were found in Japan. A type originally isolated from Kanazawa showed an identical DNA pattern by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, although the other types showed the distinct DNA patterns. These results suggest that the genetic diversity of N. commune is unexpectedly high, although these types appear to be morphologically indistinguishable. The laboratory culture conditions for N. commune were characterized. The antarctic strain SO-42 could grow on inorganic salts, but the strain IAM M-13 required yeast extract supplement for the liquid culture conditions. The strain KU002 from Kanazawa was able to grow on the solid medium, but not in the liquid medium, suggesting that this strain requires nutrients in agar for cell growth.