Effect of hexachlorobenzene and acetone on algal growth: Physiology and ultrastructure

Abstract

The effect of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and acetone on growth and ultrastructure of the freshwater alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa was studied. The algal cells were grown for 76 h under continuous light in 10 ppm HCB with 0.33% acetone or in 0.33% acetone alone; the control cells were grown in nutrient solution only. As was deduced from determinations of dry matter, carbohydrates, chlorophyll content and total nitrogen, 0.33% acetone in nutrient solution slightly decreased the growth of the cells without having any influence on their ultrastructure while 3.33% acetone affected the ultrastructure of the cells severely. An incubation of Chlorella with 10 ppm HCB in nutrient solution containing 0.33% acetone led to a drastic decrease of all growth parameters studied, total nitrogen and chlorophyll content being affected most strongly. These latter observations were in accord with the changes in ultrastructure showing damage to the cell membranes, disintegrated cytoplasm and sometimes even break down of cell organelles leaving only starch grains, the pyrenoid and some endomembranes. In addition to these cells with severe lesions, quite normal cells were found.