Effect of Certain Quinones, Diquat, and Diuron on Chlorella pyrenoidosa Chick. (Emerson strain)

Abstract

The effect of 1,4-naphthoquinone, 1,4-benzoquinone, and several CI and NH2-substituted quinones has been studied on growth, chlorophyll concentration, and oxygen evolution in Chlorella pyrenoidosa Chick. (Emerson strain). Drastic decrease of the studied parameters usually was noted after 24 to 48 hr treatment at 3×10–5 M concentration. The effect of the quinones was compared with that of 6,7-dihydrodipyrido [l,2-a:2,l-c-]pyrazidinium salt (diquat) and 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-l,l-dimethylurea (diuron). Diuron inhibited oxygen evolution immediately after addition, but could be washed out and the effect was reversible. Diquat had no inhibitory effect on oxygen evolution and chlorophyll content but caused a slight decrease in cell number. Although some quinones have an almost immediate effect on the oxygen-evolving mechanism, it seems more likely that the overall effect of the quinones is on the total physiological activity of the algal cells. Oxygen evolution seems to affected earlier than chlorophyll destruction, and the observed long-term damage is irreversible. Most of the compounds studied could be classified as algicidal, with the exception of diuron, diquat, and 1,4-benzoquinone which may be considered to be algistatic.