title: Allelopathic effects of Ailanthus altissima extracts on Microcystis aeruginosa growth, physiological changes and microcystins release.
abstract: The use of allelochemicals has been proved an environmentally friendly and promising method to control harmful algal blooms. This study was conducted to explore the application potential of Ailanthus altissima (A. altissima) extracts in Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) control for the first time. Four treatments with A. altissima extractions (25mgL(-1), 50mgL(-1), 100mgL(-1), and 200mgL(-1) respectively) and a control group were built to investigate the effects of A. altissima on the growth, cellular microstructure and cell viability, physiological changes, and release of extracellular matters. Results showed that the cell density of M. aeruginosa was effectively inhibited by A. altissima extract, and the inhibition rates were dose-dependent within 5d. Especially for the treatment with 200mgL(-1) of extract, the inhibitory rates remains above 90% after 5d exposure. In addition, A. altissima effectively decreased the amount of extracellular cyanotoxin microcystins and destroyed the photosynthesis-related structure of algae cell during the experimental period. The results demonstrated the A. altissima extracts can be used as an effective and safe algicide to control algal blooms. However, it must be noted that specific compounds responsible for algicidal effect should be isolated and identified to explore inhibition mechanism of A. altissima in future study.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, China; College of Biological and Brewing Engineering, Taishan University, Taian, China.
authors.forename: Panpan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Shandong Provincial Engineering Centre on Environmental Science and Technology, Shandong Province, Jinan, China. Electronic address: haiyanhup@126.com.
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Shandong Provincial Engineering Centre on Environmental Science and Technology, Shandong Province, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Wenrong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: College of Biological and Brewing Engineering, Taishan University, Taian, China.
authors.forename: Zhongde
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Xiuqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Hangzhou
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D032268:Ailanthus / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D057097:Harmful Algal Bloom / Q000187:drug effects*; D052998:Microcystins / Q000378:metabolism*; D046931:Microcystis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010675:Pheromones / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D052998:Microcystins; D010675:Pheromones; D010936:Plant Extracts; C078588:microcystin
keywords: Ailanthus altissima; Allelochemicals; Inhibition; M. aeruginosa