Change in toxicity effect of mercury at static concentration to Chlorella vulgaris with addition of organic carbon sources.
The effect of mercury on Chlorella vulgaris is influenced to a large extent by organic carbon sources like glucose, glutamate, and 2-oxoglutarate which is exhibited through changes in growth and metabolic processes of the alga in the presence of static dose (0.200 +/- 0.004, p = 0.05) of Hg2+. Addition of the three carbon sources to the Hg(2+)-amended Chu No 10+ medium resulted in an acceleration of pigment biomass, growth, and protein content of the green alga. Glucose at all concentrations was found to be more effective than the other two in reducing the mercury toxicity to C. vulgaris. However, the detoxifying effect is dependent on the type of carbon sources, their concentration and days of incubation. Glucose at 5 mg/l significantly reduced Hg2+ toxicity while glutamate and 2-oxoglutarate, at this concentration, did not show such capacity. Similarly the degree of significance of ameliorative effect increased with increase in incubation period which, however, varied with the carbon source. Availability of additional energy and formation of non-toxic or less toxic mercury are the probable causes of reduction in toxicity effects.
Mohanty
R C
RC
Department of Botany, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, India.
Mohanty
L
L
Mohapatra
P K
PK
D002708:Chlorella / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D017753:Ecosystem; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D007656:Ketoglutaric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D008628:Mercury / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity
D005971:Glutamates; D007656:Ketoglutaric Acids; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D011506:Proteins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002734:Chlorophyll; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D008628:Mercury; D005947:Glucose