Abstract
The effect of three triazine herbicides namely, Gardoprim, Gesapax and Igran on the freshwater alga, Scenedesmus sp., was studied. Growth rate, chlorophyll (a) content, and ratio of chlorophylls (a/b) tend to decrease as the concentration of herbicides in the bioassay media was increased. The inhibitory effect of the studied herbicides was in the following the order: Igran > Gesapax > Gardoprim. Obtainable results reflect the relation between chemical structure and toxicity even within a chemically related group of herbicides. Uptake of the studied compounds by Scenedesmus algal cells decreased as the concentration of herbicides in the media was increased. The pH of the bioassay media showed gradual increase as algal growth proceeded, whereas in media containing inhibitory levels of the triazines, the pH value was unaffected. Microscopical examinations of Scenedesmus in all tested cultures showed marked morphological changes. In the case of inhibitory concentrations, the unicellular forms increased in numbers compared to Scenedesmus in the normal four-cell state. Statistical analysis revealed that significant relation existed between herbicide concentrations and chlorophyll content.
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El-Dib, M.A., Shehata, S.A. & Abou Waly, H.F. Response of freshwater alga Scenedesmus to triazine herbicides. Water Air Soil Pollut 48, 307–316 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00283333
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00283333