Effect of temperature and organic & inorganic factors on growth and proliferation of Paramecium caudatum

Unicellular ciliates including Paramecium caudatum can be cultivated in yeast medium. In this research the effect of temperature and medium enrichment on growth and reproduction of the ciliate population was evaluated. The growth of the P. caudatum population in the ordinary yeast medium under a range of temperature from 20 to 40°C and enrichment of the medium using both the ions (Ca2+ and Mg2+) and the L-Arginine were compared. Based on the results the population of the ciliate 48 h after the cultivation in the ordinary yeast medium increased at a significant level (p<0. 001) under 30 ºC compared with those of other temperatures. Moreover، the enrichment of the medium with ingredients (Ca2+ and Mg2+) especially after adding of L-Arginine under optimum temperature caused more increase in the population of the ciliate to that observed in the ordinary medium (p<0. 001). The growth curve of P. caudatum in enriched medium under optimum temperature showed 4 phases. A comparison between growth curves of this with that of ordinary medium indicated much upward growth in the enriched one. According to this work an enriched yeast medium under the temperature of 30 ºC can be introduced as a suitable artificial medium for cultivation and proliferation of P. caudatum.