Prochlorococcus PC Medium


This medium can be used to grow oceanic phytoplankton and is made with open ocean (oligotrophic) seawater. To prepare PC Medium filter 1.0 L of the open ocean water into a Teflon lined container, then "sterilize" by heating in a microwave until the seawater boils rapidly. After the seawater cools, add the following stock solutions aseptically:

NaNO3 (75.0 g/L dH2O)0.1 ml
Urea (30.03 g/L dH2O)0.1 ml
NH4Cl (26.75 g/L dH2O)0.1 ml
beta-Glycerophosphate (2.16 g/L dH2O)1.0 ml
H2SeO3 (1.28 mg/L dH2O)1.0 ml
NiSO4·6H2O (2.63 mg/L dH2O)1.0 ml
f/2 Vitamin Solution0.05 ml
PC Trace Metal Solution0.1 ml

f/2 Vitamin Solution:
Vitamin B12 (1.0 g/L dH2O)1.0 ml
Biotin (0.1 g/L dH2O)10.0 ml
Thiamine HCl200.0 mg
Distilled water to1.0 L
Filter sterilize into plastic vials and store in refrigerator.

Note: Vitamin B12 and Biotin are obtained in a crystalline form. When preparing the Vitamin B12 Stock Solution allow for approximately 11% water of crystallization (For each 1.0 mg of Vitamin B12 add 0.89 ml dH2O). When preparing the Biotin Stock Solution allow for approximately 4% water of crystallization (For each 1.0 mg of Biotin add 9.6 ml dH2O).

PC Trace Metal Solution:
Na2EDTA·2H2O41.6 g
FeCl3·6H2O3.15 g
Na2MoO4·2H2O (6.3 g/L dH2O)1.0 ml
ZnSO4·7H2O (22.0 g/L dH2O)1.0 ml
CoCl2·6H2O (10.0 g/L dH2O)1.0 ml
MnCl2·4H2O (180.0 g/L dH2O)1.0 ml
Distilled water to1.0 L
Heat to dissolve.



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