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RESPONSES OF FRESHWATER ALGAE TO INHIBITORY VANADIUM CONCENTRATIONS: THE ROLE OF PHOSPHORUS 1
Author(s) -
Nalewajko Czeslawa,
Lee Kenneth,
Olaveson Mary
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1111/j.0022-3646.1995.00332.x
Subject(s) - vanadium , vanadate , biology , photosynthesis , scenedesmus , algae , phosphate , vacuole , phosphorus , botany , biochemistry , chemistry , cytoplasm , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry
We found that species‐specific differences exist among a variety of freshwater algae and cyanobacteria in the extent to which growth and photosynthesis are inhibited by vanadium. A major factor controlling the degree of inhibition by vanadium was the phosphorus state (P‐sufficient vs. P‐deficient) of the organisms. In P‐sufficient cultures, vanadium was inhibitory when the vanadium concentration exceeded the phosphate concentration. In P‐deficient cultures, the depression of photosynthesis by vanadium increased with increasing phosphorus deficiency. Our conclusion that vanadium competed with phosphate for uptake sites was supported by the following three observations: 1) the decreased influx of 32 P‐PO4into P‐deficient cells in the presence of vanadium, 2) the amelioration of vanadium inhibition of photosynthesis by the addition of phosphate, and 3) the accumulation of vanadium by cells. At vanadium concentrations that severely inhibited growth, the cells of Scenedesmus obliquus ( Turp.) Kruger were larger than normal and contained more vacuoles, lipid, and starch bodies than normal cells. Four‐celled coenobia were replaced by unicells . Scenedesmus acutusf: alternans Hortobagyi cells from vanadium‐inhibited cultures had 7.5 times more vanadium per cell than control cultures and contained numerous granules that did not stain for polyphosphate and may be composed of condensed vanadate molecules. The cellular P quota and turnover time of PO 4 in the medium are important regulators of the extent of inhibition by vanadium .