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Occurrence and Distribution of Blue-green Algal Species Particularly

Family Nostocaceae in Godavari River Belt of Kopargaon Tahsil

Dr. Ganesh Sanjay Shinde*

Department of Botany, K.J. Somaiya College of Arts, Commerce and Science, Kopargaon,
Dist. Ahmednagar (M.S.) India 423 601.

*Email of corresponding author: gsshindebhumi@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
In the present investigation, blue-green algal species particularly belonged to family

Nostocaceae occurred in Godavari river belt of Kopargaon tehsil was studied. To assess the
cyanobacterial distribution in the soil fifteen sampling sites were established and soil Samples

were collected from two different crop fields. For isolation of blue-green algae in the
collected soil samples, the BG- 11 and Fogg’s culture media are used. The taxonomic

identification was carried using the monographs and keys given by Desikachary. During

present research endeavor, the family Nostocaceae represented by 3 genera and 18 species.
These are Cylindrospermum (1), Nostoc (12) and Anabaena (5). The large number of blue-

green algal species were obtained from soil cultures from irrigated areas rather than rainfed
areas. While comparing occurrence of blue-green algal species from rainfed and irrigated

areas, Cylindrospermum musicola, Nostoc punctiforme, Nostoc linckia, Nostoc
sporangiaeforme, Nostoc calcicola, Anabaena oryzae, Anabaena fertilissima and Anabaena

orientalis occurred consistently in most of the soils and acting as regular constituent of the

soil microflora in Godavari river belt of Kopargaon tehsil. The dominance of these species
might be due to their tolerance to salinity. As concerned with number of blue-green algal

species, the soils from rainfed (non-irrigated) areas found correlated with a paucity of blue-
green algal growth. These results coincide with the soils from Maharashtra state.

Keywords: Family Nostocaceae, Godavari river belt, Occurrence, Relative abundance.

INTRODUCTION
The blue-green algal contribution largely depends upon their establishment under

field conditions and their growth and nitrogen fixing potential. These photosynthetic
cyanobacteria make a valuable contribution to the nitrogenous soil fertility by fixing

atmospheric nitrogen. In addition to this, they excrete vitamin B12, auxins and ascorbic acid,

which may also contribute to the better growth and productivity of crop plants. They have
incredible prospective in ecological management as biofertilizer, biomonitors of soil fertility,

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