Photoinhibition of Growth in Acanthamoeba castellanii Cultures1

Light from 350 to 680 nm at intensities up to 1.62 X 105 ergs per sec per cm2 slowed exponential growth and lowered the maximum yield in axenic cultures of Acanthamoeba castellanii. Photoinhibition was a linear function of light intensity up to 1.25 X 106 ergs per sec per cm2. At higher intensities, growth was too slow to be measured accurately. A photochemical change occurring in the growth medium on irradiation was a function of light dosage and not intensity per se. Light in dosages which appreciably changed the growth-supporting properties of the medium exceeded the dosages received by exponentially growing cultures during irradiation. Consequently, photoinhibition of growth was attributed to a direct effect of light on the amoebae, not to photodegradation of the medium. The growth-supporting properties of irradiated media could be restored by the addition of yeast extract and Proteose peptone. The reduced growth rate in the light was not due to cyst formation