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Effects of Cu2+ and Zn2+ on growth and physiological characteristics of green algae, Cladophora

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Abstract

Effects of various concentrations of Cu2+ and Zn2+ (0.0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, or 1.0 mg/L) on the growth, malondialdehyde (MDA), the intracellular calcium, and physiological characteristics of green algae, Cladophora, were investigated. Low Zn2+ concentrations accelerated the growth of Cladophora, whereas Zn2+ concentration increases to 0.25 mg/L inhibited its growth. Cu2+ greatly influences Cladophora growth. The photosynthesis of Cladophora decreased under Zn2+ and Cu2+ stress. Cu2+ and Zn2+ treatment affected the content of total soluble sugar in Cladophora and has small increases in its protein content. Zn2+ induced the intracellular calcium release, and copper induced the intracellular calcium increases in Cladophora. Exposure to Cu2+ and Zn2+ induces MDA in Cladophora. The stress concent of Cu2+ was strictly correlated with the total soluble sugar content, Chla+Chlb, and MDA in Cladophora, and the stress concent of Zn2+ was strictly correlated with the relative growth rate (RGR) and MDA of Cladophora.

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Acknowledgments

This research is completed under the financial aid of the Key Project of Natural Science Foundation of China (41430752) and supported by the Opening Project of State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization also.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Resource and Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, People’s Republic of China

    De-ju Cao, Pan-pan Xie, Juan-wei Deng, Hui-min Zhang, Ru-xiao Ma, Cheng Liu, Ren-jing Liu, Yue-gan Liang, Hao Li & Xiao-dong Shi

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  1. De-ju Cao
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  2. Pan-pan Xie
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  3. Juan-wei Deng
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  4. Hui-min Zhang
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  5. Ru-xiao Ma
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  6. Cheng Liu
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  7. Ren-jing Liu
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  8. Yue-gan Liang
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  9. Hao Li
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  10. Xiao-dong Shi
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Correspondence to De-ju Cao.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Highlights

• Low Zn2+ concentrations accelerated the growth of Cladophora; Cu2+ greatly influences Cladophora growth.

• Cu2+ and Zn2+ treatment affected the content of total soluble sugar in Cladophora, but not its protein content.

• Zn2+ induced the intracellular calcium release, and copper induced the intracellular calcium increases in Cladophora.

• Exposure to Cu2+ and Zn2+ induces MDA in Cladophora.

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Cao, Dj., Xie, Pp., Deng, Jw. et al. Effects of Cu2+ and Zn2+ on growth and physiological characteristics of green algae, Cladophora . Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 16535–16541 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4847-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4847-2

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