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Effects of the algicides CuSO4 and NaOCl on various physiological parameters in the harmful dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides

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Abstract

The marine dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides has spread worldwide and is responsible for harmful algal blooms. The chemical biocides, copper sulfate (CuSO4) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), are known to be effective in removing bloom-forming or biofouling organisms. Here, we assessed the biocidal efficiency and toxicological properties of NaOCl and CuSO4 on the physiological and catalase responses of C. polykrikoides. The endpoints used were cell counts, pigment content, chlorophyll autofluorescence (CAF), and antioxidant catalase (CAT) activity. The test organism showed a dose-dependent decrease in growth rate against the algicides; 72-h median effective concentrations (EC50) were 0.584 and 0.633 mg L–1 for NaOCl and CuSO4, respectively. The decrease in pigment levels and CAF intensity showed that NaOCl and CuSO4 might affect the photosynthetic processes of the exposed cells. Furthermore, a considerable increase in CAT activity in the cells was detected, indicating that the algicides might generate reactive oxygen species, thereby markedly damaging the cells. These results suggest that the test algicides are very effective in removing C. polykrikoides by inducing cellular stress and inhibiting cell recovery at higher concentrations.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (nos. 2012-0001741, 2013-044476), a grant from the National Fisheries Research and Development (NFRDI) funded to J.-S. Ki, and a 2014 Research Grant from Sangmyung University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life Science, Sangmyung University, Seoul, 110-743, South Korea

    Vinitha Ebenezer & Jang-Seu Ki

  2. Fishery and Ocean Information Division, National Fisheries Research & Development Institute, Busan, 619-705, South Korea

    Wol Ae Lim

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  1. Vinitha Ebenezer
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Correspondence to Jang-Seu Ki.

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Supplementary Fig. 1

Variation in chlorophyll autoflourescence in C. polykrikoides after 6 and 72 h exposure to algicides NaOCl (upper panel) and CuSO4 (lower panel). Scale = 20 μm. (PPT 491 kb)

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Ebenezer, V., Lim, W.A. & Ki, JS. Effects of the algicides CuSO4 and NaOCl on various physiological parameters in the harmful dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides . J Appl Phycol 26, 2357–2365 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-014-0267-9

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