Isolation of a novel cyanophage infecting potentially bloom-forming Limnothrix sp

A filamentous cyanobacterium, identified as Limnothrix sp. VL01, and a novel lytic cyanophage Φ L-VL01 that infects it, were isolated from a shallow freshwater lake located in Goa, India. Cyanophage-infected Limnothrix sp. VL01 demonstrated reduced growth and increased fragmentation of filaments, compared to uninfected control. Limnothrix sp. is known to form blooms in freshwater lakes. Φ L-VL01 could be a significant agent in controlling such blooms.