Studies onEctocarpusin Culture. I. Introduction and Methods of Obtaining Uni-Algal and Bacteria-Free Cultures

Details are given of the culture apparatus and methods found successful for the laboratory culture of species ofEctocarpus. In attempts to obtain uni-algal cultures of this genus several common methods were tried but only one of them, a modification of the plating technique, proved successful. Methods of washing and dilution were unsuccessful in giving bacteria-free cultures, presumably due to bacteria closely adhering to the cell walls. Ultraviolet irradiation was also unsuccessful but treatment with penicillin gave bacteria-free cultures ofE. confervoidesandE. secundus (Giffordia secunda).