Synchronous cultures of the chlorophyte Scenedesmus vacuolatus or other green algae are used to diagnose different modes of action based on functional and population based endpoints. After dosing of the samples to an inorganic algal medium and an inoculation of algae is added, algae are incubated for 2h and 24h. Photosynthetic capacity and fluorescence are evaluated using a Maxi-IPAM fluorometer and a fluorescence plate reader, respectively.

Flow cytometry is applied to quantify cell densities and size distributions as well as subpopulations with specific fluorescence characteristics. This test can differentiate between non-specifically acting compounds and photosynthesis inhibitors, such as herbicides.

Applications:

Assessment of phytotoxicity caused by herbicides and other modes of action relevant for inhibition of algal growth and reproduction

Literature references

Riedl, J., Altenburger, R., (2007): Physicochemical substance properties as indicators for unreliable exposure in microplate-based bioassays. Chemosphere 67 (11), 2210 - 2220

Gawel A., Seiwert B., Sühnholz S., Schmitt-Jansen M., Mackenzie K. (2020) In-situ treatment of herbicide-contaminated groundwater – Feasibility study for the cases atrazine and bromacil using two novel nanoremediation-type materials. J. Hazard. Mater. 393, art. 122470 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122470)