Living cyanobacteria culture of the genus Oscillatoria ("swinging algae")
The strain SAG 74.79 Oscillatoria sancta was isolated by W. Koch (1914-2006) from a soil sample from the Victoria House in the Botanical Garden of the University of Göttingen and deposited in the Collection of Algal Cultures of the University of Göttingen (SAG). Cyanobacteria were the first living organisms to produce oxygen by means of photosynthesis. Even today, they play a major role in global material cycles and are researched in a wide range of disciplines. The cyanobacteria cultures in Göttingen serve as valuable reference material.
W. Koch, 1970, Light microscope image: T. Darienko 2016
View into a temperature-constant room of the algae culture collection
The preservation, research and expansion of the holdings and subject-specific methods are among the central tasks of the collection. The cultures are associated with a wide range of data, e.g. on origin, molecular signature and cultivation conditions. These are constantly being expanded and made available online. The living cultures of the SAG are maintained at five different temperatures and over 40 different culture media produced in-house. The light requirements also differ for many cultures.
Photo: Jan Vetter (JanVetter.com), 2013
Permanent stages of the reference culture of Haematococcus ("blood rain alga") deposited in Göttingen
The strain SAG 192.80 Haematococcus pluvialis was isolated in 1959 from an acidic pond at Bruchberg (Harz) and deposited in the collection of algal cultures of the University of Göttingen (SAG). The blood rain algae belong to the green algae. They survive unfavourable environmental conditions as red permanent stages. Their colour is caused by the stored astaxanthin. This carotenoid is used as a natural additive, e.g. in fish farming or the cosmetics industry. In Göttingen, 20 isolates from all over the world have been deposited and are being intensively researched.
W. Koch, 1959, light microscope image: M. Lorenz 2016
Petri dish cultures of various algae from the algae culture collection
An unlimited number of identical cultures can be produced from each isolate in the collection. The stocks are thus accessible worldwide for research, teaching and biotechnology. They are presented with the associated scientific information in an online catalogue. The staff of the collection ship over 1,000 algal cultures annually. The diversity of the Göttingen holdings is thus used intensively as a research basis on the Göttingen Campus, but also at schools, universities and other research institutions worldwide.
Photo: Maike Lorenz 2016
Göttingen Culture Collection of Algae
The collection of algal cultures at the University of Göttingen (SAG) is one of the world's largest and oldest living collections of microscopic algae and cyanobacteria. Since its foundation in 1954 by E.G. Pringsheim (1881-1970), its holdings have grown to more than 2,700 isolates. These come mainly from terrestrial habitats and freshwater. One fifth of the algal isolates deposited in Göttingen are particularly valuable type strains. As a biological resource and competence centre, the collection has an international reputation and serves science, teaching and biotechnology worldwide.
