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{{Short description|Genus of cyanobacteria}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Nostoc commune.jpg
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|''[[Nostoc maculiforme]]'' <small>Bornet & Flahault, 1888</small>
|''[[Nostoc mamillosum]]'' <small>C.-C.Jao, 1940</small>
|''[[Nostoc maramorgellons]]'' <small>Smith & Gerbaux, 2020</small>
|''[[Nostoc margaritaceum]]'' <small>(Kützing) Rabenhorst, 1865</small>
|''[[Nostoc membranaceum]]'' <small>N.L.Gardner, 1927</small>
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}}
'''''Nostoc''''', also known as '''[[star jelly]]''', '''troll's butter''', '''spit of moon''', '''fallen star''', '''witch's butter''' (not to be confused with the fungi commonly known as [[witches' butter]]), and '''witch's jelly,''' is the most common genus of [[cyanobacteria]] found in a variety of both aquatic and terrestrial environments that may form [[colony (biology)|colonies]] composed of [[Filamentation|filaments]] of [[wiktionary:moniliform|moniliform]] cells in a gelatinous sheath of polysaccharides.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Fidor |first1=Anna |last2=Konkel |first2=Robert |last3=Mazur-Marzec |first3=Hanna |date=2019-09-29 |title=Bioactive Peptides Produced by Cyanobacteria of the Genus Nostoc: A Review |journal=Marine Drugs |volume=17 |issue=10 |pages=561 |doi=10.3390/md17100561 |pmid=31569531 |pmc=6835634 |issn=1660-3397|doi-access=free }}</ref> It may also grow [[symbiosis|symbiotically]] within the [[tissue (biology)|tissues]] of [[plant]]s, providing [[nitrogen]] to its host through the action of terminally differentiated cells known as [[heterocysts]]. ''Nostoc'' is a genus that includes many species that are diverse in morphology, habitat distribution, and ecological function.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Sand-Jensen |first=Kaj |date=July 2014 |title=Ecophysiology of gelatinous Nostoc colonies: unprecedented slow growth and survival in resource-poor and harsh environments |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcu085 |journal=Annals of Botany |volume=114 |issue=1 |pages=17–33 |doi=10.1093/aob/mcu085 |issn=1095-8290 |pmc=4071103 |pmid=24966352}}</ref> ''Nostoc'' can be found in [[soil]], on moist rocks, at the bottom of [[lake]]s and springs, and rarely in marine habitats. It may also be found in terrestrial temperate, desert, tropical, or polar environments.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=SS-AGR-431/AG430: Biology and Management of Nostoc (Cyanobacteria) in Nurseries and Greenhouses |url=https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AG430 |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=edis.ifas.ufl.edu |language=en}}</ref>
The name ''Nostoc'' was coined by [[Paracelsus]] and is a combination of the English ''nost''ril and German
== Morphology ==
[[File:Nostoc strains (10.3897-mycokeys.6.3869) Figure 2.jpg|left|thumb|''Nostoc'' strains]]
''Nostoc'' are a genus of [[Gram-negative bacteria|Gram-negative]] photosynthetic [[cyanobacteria]].<ref name=":1" /> Many species of ''Nostoc'' possess an outer layer and extensive inner matrix of [[polysaccharide]]s, giving them their "jelly-like" or gelatinous appearance, and also help to protect them from their environment and can assist in the absorption of moisture. This allows them to survive stressful conditions such as fluctuating temperatures, drought, salt stress, desiccation, UV radiation, and infection by pathogens.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last1=Aguilar |first1=Pablo |last2=Dorador |first2=Cristina |last3=Vila |first3=Irma |last4=Sommaruga |first4=Ruben |date=2019 |title=Bacterial Communities Associated With Spherical Nostoc Macrocolonies |journal=Frontiers in Microbiology |volume=10 |page=483 |doi=10.3389/fmicb.2019.00483 |issn=1664-302X |pmc=6437075 |pmid=30949138 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Some species within the genus also have [[Nitrogen fixation|nitrogen-fixing]] [[heterocyst]] filaments enclosed in this membrane.<ref name=":3" />
[[File:CyanobacteriaColl1.jpg|thumb|left|240px|''[[Nostoc pruniforme]]'']]▼
Many members of the ''Nostoc'' genus form colonies. These colonies can reach several centimeters in diameter.<ref name=":4" /> These colonies consist of mats or gelatinous masses created by aggregated trichomes that can appear in a range of colors (depending on the species) such as brown, yellow, or green.<ref name=":2" />
Additionally, some species of ''Nostoc'' are able to enter quiescent stages, further aiding in their survival of adverse conditions, and allowing them to resume metabolism when re-hydrated.<ref name=":3" />
== Ecology ==
=== Habitat and distribution ===
''Nostoc'' can be found in a variety of environments, both terrestrial and aquatic, depending on the species. Their polysaccharide outer layer and matrix allows them to survive and thrive in a variety of conditions and habits ranging from deserts, semideserts, grasslands, polar, and tropical regions depending on the particular species of ''Nostoc''.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> In terms of aquatic environments, ''Nostoc'' has been documented to be naturally found in marine water, fresh water, as well as brackish water.<ref name=":1" />
[[File:Nostoc or Witch's Butter, Chapeltoun, North Ayrshire, Scotland.jpg|thumb|Terrestrial colony of ''Nostoc''|center]][[File:20160223Nostoc3.jpg|thumb|Aquatic ''Nostoc''|center]]
=== Interactions with other organisms ===
Depending on the species, ''Nostoc'' may either be free-living in their environment, or they may form relationships with the other organisms in their environment, such as plants, fungi, or other bacteria.<ref name=":3" /> Because ''Nostoc'' is able to form colonies on the surface of bare minerals, it is able to provide a more stable environment for higher vegetation in its environment.<ref name=":3" /> Some species of ''Nostoc'' also form relationships with plants that lack vascular tissue such as Bryophytes because of their ability to fix nitrogen. ''Nostoc'' has also been found to form [[Symbiosis|symbiotic associations]] and other relationships with other bacteria in their environment. Some species of ''Nostoc'' that form colonies in freshwater environments provide a habitat to other freshwater bacteria. Additionally, some species like ''[[Nostoc commune|N. commune]]'' and ''[[Nostoc flagelliforme|N. flageliforme]]'' form relationships with [[Heterotroph|heterotrophic bacteria]] and [[actinobacteria]] present in their environments, likely due to the fact that they are a potential significant player in [[Nitrogen cycle|nitrogen cycling]] in aquatic ecosystems.<ref name=":4" />
==Usage==
=== Biotechnological usage ===
''Nostoc'' has been documented to produce many compounds of interest, including those that are antiviral, antitumor, antifungal, and antibacterial.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Nowruzi |first1=Bahareh |last2=Haghighat |first2=Setareh |last3=Fahimi |first3=Hossein |last4=Mohammadi |first4=Ehsan |date=March 2018 |title=Nostoc cyanobacteria species: a new and rich source of novel bioactive compounds with pharmaceutical potential |journal=Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research |language=en |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=5–12 |doi=10.1111/jphs.12202|s2cid=80405030 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=":1" />
In addition to the suggested pharmaceutical usage, ''Nostoc'' has also been a suggested [[biofertilizer]], and source of [[fatty acid]]s for [[biofuel]] production.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bhandari |first1=Rupali |last2=Sharma |first2=Prabhat Kumar |date=2006 |title=High-light–induced Changes on Photosynthesis, Pigments, Sugars, Lipids and Antioxidant Enzymes in Freshwater (Nostoc spongiaeforme) and Marine (Phormidium corium) Cyanobacteria |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1562/2005-09-20-ra-690 |journal=Photochemistry and Photobiology |volume=82 |issue=3 |pages=702–710 |doi=10.1562/2005-09-20-ra-690 |pmid=16464127 |s2cid=24222149 |issn=0031-8655}}</ref>
=== Environmental usage ===
''Nostoc'' has the unique ability to survive and colonize new and bare mineral surfaces by moss and other higher plants, which then allows for more organic soil and stable vegetation. It has been suggested that ''Nostoc'' be used in environments of retreating glaciers in order to establish new and more stable presences of vegetation on newly exposed mineral surfaces.<ref name=":3" />
=== Historical and culinary usage ===
{{See also|Fat choy}}▼
''Nostoc'' has historically been utilized as a healthy food and traditional medicine, most notably in Asia <ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Li |first1=Zhuoyu |last2=Guo |first2=Min |date=2018 |title=Healthy efficacy of Nostoc commune Vaucher |journal=Oncotarget |volume=9 |issue=18 |pages=14669–14679|doi=10.18632/oncotarget.23620 |pmid=29581873 |pmc=5865699 }}</ref> Historically, the species ''[[Fat choy|N. flagelliforme]]'' and ''[[Nostoc commune|N. commune]]'' have been consumed in China, where it was used to survive famines and has been used as an ingredient in Chinese medicine since the [[Jin dynasty (266–420)|Eastern Jin Dynasty]].<ref name=":0" /> Additionally, ''Nostoc'' has had documented culinary usage in India, Indonesia, Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador.<ref name=":1" />
== Human impact and management ==
[[File:Nostoc commune on footbridge - geograph.org.uk - 2708011.jpg|left|thumb|''[[Nostoc commune]]'' overtaking a footbridge]]
Because of human foot traffic, and contaminated gardening tools and irrigation systems, ''Nostoc'' is usually found outside of its natural habitat in plant nurseries and greenhouses. A number of different control methods can be effective in removing unwanted ''Nostoc'' from these environments, including implementing increased drainage in these facilities, physical removal of ''Nostoc'', and flame weeders or solarization.<ref name=":2" />
==Taxonomy==
''Nostoc'' is a member of the family [[Nostocaceae]] of the order [[Nostocales]]. Species include (see collapsed list on the right for full listing) :
{{div col|colwidth=17em}}
*''[[Nostoc azollae]]''
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*''[[Nostoc thermotolerans]]''
*''[[Nostoc verrucosum]]'' Vaucher ex Bornet et Flahault<ref name="Mollenhauer-et-al-1999" />{{div col end}}
▲{{See also|Fat choy}}
▲Containing protein and [[vitamin C]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eattheweeds.com/nostoc-nasal-nostalgia-and-edible-too-2/|title=Nostoc Num Nums|last=Deane|first=Green|date=2011-08-31|website=Eat The Weeds and other things, too|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131013211/http://www.eattheweeds.com/nostoc-nasal-nostalgia-and-edible-too-2/|archive-date=2019-01-31|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Nostoc'' species are cultivated and consumed as a foodstuff, primarily in Asia. The species ''[[Fat choy|N. flagelliforme]]'' and ''[[Nostoc commune|N. commune]]'' are consumed in [[China]], where it was used to survive famines. The preferred variety in [[Central Asia]] is ''[[Nostoc ellipsosporum|N. ellipsosporum]]''.
==References==
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q311257}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Nostocaceae]]
[[Category:Cyanobacteria genera]]
[[Category:Lichen photobiont]]
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