Application of soft X-ray microscopy to environmental microbiology of hydrosphere

Microstructures of unprocessed filamentous cyanobacterium, Pseudanabaena foetida sp., producing a musty smell were observed using soft X-ray microscopy. Carbon-enriched structures and granules as well as oxygen-enriched granules which have been already reported were observed. Except for early log growth phase, the oxygen-enriched granules were observed. However, the carbon-enriched structures were observed throughout log growth phase. The result suggests there is a relationship between the oxygen-enriched granules and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) productivity, since the 2-MIB productivity of each cell is increased depending on the culture period in log growth phase.