Growth and 2-methylisoborneol production by the cyanobacterium Phormidium LM689

Growth and production of 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) was characterized in the cyanobacterium Phormidium sp. LM689 isolated from Lake Mathews, California, USA. The effects of: 1) uptake of several organic amendments related to pigment biosynthesis, 2) Fe availability, and 3) copper algicides were examined. Growth was estimated by total chlorophyll and soluble protein accumulation. Pyruvate additions up to 1250 mM did not effectively alter biomass accumulation. Mevalonic lactone increasingly stimulated (protein) growth but not MIB output at the same range of concentrations. Geraniol did not inhibit overall cyanobacterial growth when added to 300 μM, but did slightly decrease chlorophyll accumulation. Farnesol exhibited an antibiotic effect at all concentrations from 10 to 100 μM. Phormidium was tolerant to 1 ppm Cu⁺² added as copper sulfate or as chelated copper. Siderophore production and growth in Fe and chelator-free medium was also demonstrated.