Influence of Bleaching Herbicides on Chlorophyll and Carotenoids

Abstract

Abstract Over 24 and 48 hour cultivation periods the influence of SAN 9789 (norflurazon), EMD-IT 5914 (difunon) and fluridone on growth, photosynthetic oxygen evolution and pigment content of the green alga Scenedesmus acutus was determined. Four effects were observed: a) Both carotenoid and chlorophyll formation were inhibited. b) Carotenoids were destroyed in the presence of air, but not nitrogen. The level of chlorophyll, however, did not change. c) β- (and α-) carotene was markedly decreased in the presence of oxygen. d) Photosynthetic oxygen evolution was decreased with the disappearance of carotenoids. These effects, which are accompanied by reduced growth, are believed to represent primary herbicidal modes of action. The decrease of oxygen evolution is not due to a direct inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport by the herbicides applied.