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The effects of electrochemical oxidation on in-vivo fluorescence and toxin content in Microcystis aeruginosa culture

  • ICTC-10 Special Issue: Cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins: responses and detection
  • Published:
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Abstract

The increasing occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms in water bodies is a serious threat to the environment. Efficient in-lake treatment methods for the control of cyanobacteria proliferation are needed, their in-vivo detection to obtain a real-time response to their presence, as well as the information about their physiological state after the applied treatment. In-vivo fluorescence measurements of photosynthetic pigments have proved to be effective for quantitative and qualitative detection of phytoplankton in a water environment. In the experiment, chlorophyll and phycocyanin fluorescence sensors were used concurrently to detect stress caused by electrochemical oxidation applying an electrolytic cell equipped with borondoped diamond electrodes on a laboratory culture of cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806. The inflicted injuries were reflected in a clear transient increase in the phycocyanin fluorescence signal (for 104 %± 43%) 24 h after the treatment, which was not the case for the chlorophyll fluorescence signal. In the next 72 h of observation, the fluorescence signals decreased (on 40% of the starting signal) indicating a reduction of cell number, which was confirmed by cell count (24% reduction of the starting concentration) and analysis of extracted chlorophyll and phycocyanin pigment. These results demonstrate the viability of the combined application of two sensors as a useful tool for in-vivo detection of induced stress, providing real-time information needed for the evaluation of the efficiency of the in-lake treatment and decision upon the necessity of its repetition. The electrochemical treatment also resulted in a lower free microcystins concentration compared to control.

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Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to the Engineering team of Arhel d.o.o., Gorazd Lakovič and Marko Gerl, for the development and assistance in the use of sensor equipment and an electrolytic cell.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Envit d.o.o., Vojkova cesta 63, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Tinkara Rozina

  2. Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, Večna pot 111, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Tina Eleršek & Bojan Sedmak

  3. Arhel d.o.o., Pustovrhova ulica 15, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Maja Zupančič Justin

  4. Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Andrej Meglič

  5. Centre for Soil and Environmental Sciences, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Domen Leštan

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  1. Tinkara Rozina
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  2. Tina Eleršek
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  3. Maja Zupančič Justin
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  4. Andrej Meglič
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Correspondence to Maja Zupančič Justin.

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Supported by the ARRS Project L1-5456 (Control of Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom in Fresh-Water Bodies) and LIFE + Project: LIFE12 ENV/SI/00083 LIFE Stop CyanoBloom

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Rozina, T., Eleršek, T., Zupančič Justin, M. et al. The effects of electrochemical oxidation on in-vivo fluorescence and toxin content in Microcystis aeruginosa culture. J. Ocean. Limnol. 36, 1091–1102 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-019-7180-7

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