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Selective effect of the herbicide DCMU on unicellular algae — a potential tool to maintain monoalgal mass culture ofNannochloropsis

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Abstract

The selective effect of DCMU on photosynthetic activity and growth rate was examined in several marine unicellular algae:Nannochloropsis sp. (Eustigmatohyceae),Dunaliella salina (Chlorophyceae)Isochrysis galbana (Prymnesiophyceae) andChaetoceros sp. (Bacillariophyceae). DCMU at 10−7 M caused an immediate decrease in the photosynthetic rate ofDunaliella andIsochrysis (about 50% inhibition), whereas 10−6 M imposed 80% inhibition in the photosynthetic rate ofChaetoceros. InNannochloropsis the rate was affected only when DCMU concentration exceeded 10−6M. Cellular growth rate of all studied algae was affected by DCMU in a similar manner to photosynthesis. The differential effect of DCMU was further examined in mixed cultures in whichNannochloropsis was cultivated together with an additional species simulating a contamination situation of aNannochloropsis culture. When DCMU was added at concentrations higher than 10−7 M, the growth of the competing algae significantly decreased, whileNannochloropsis maintained a relatively high growth rate. Consequently, after a growth period of 4 to 7 days a clear domination ofNannochloropsis was observed. These results demonstrate that DCMU and probably other herbicides of similar characteristics can be used effectively as a selective tool to suppress contaminating unicellular algae in open ponds in order to maintain a monoculture ofNannochloropsis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, P.O. Box 8030, Haifa, 31080, Israel

    Y. Gonen-Zurgil, Y. Carmeli-Schwartz & A. Sukenik

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  1. Y. Gonen-Zurgil
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  2. Y. Carmeli-Schwartz
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  3. A. Sukenik
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Gonen-Zurgil, Y., Carmeli-Schwartz, Y. & Sukenik, A. Selective effect of the herbicide DCMU on unicellular algae — a potential tool to maintain monoalgal mass culture ofNannochloropsis . J Appl Phycol 8, 415–419 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02178586

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02178586

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