Streptomycin- and Penicillin-induced Inhibition of Growth and Pigment Production in Blue-green Algae and Production of Strains of Anacystis nidulans Resistant to these Antibiotics

Relatively low concentrations of streptomycin inhibited thegrowth of Anacystis nidulans and Anabaena variabilis. The productionof chlorophyll, carotenoid, and phycocyanin pigments in thesealgae was significantly but reversibly inhibited by streptomycin.Strains of Anacystis nidulans that are resistant to streptomycinand penicillin were produced by serially subculturing the algain gradually increasing concentrations of the respective antibiotic.These strains seem stable. Evidence which suggests that theresistant strains originate primarily by mutation is presented.