Allelopathic effects of harmful algal extracts and exudates on biofilms on leaves of Vallisneria natans

Sci Total Environ. 2019 Mar 10:655:823-830. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.296. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Abstract

This study investigated the allelopathic effects of Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) extracts and exudates on the physiological responses, photosynthetic activity, and microbial structure of biofilms on leaves of Vallisneria natans (V. natans). By measuring physiological and photosynthetic indices, the results showed that M. aeruginosa allelochemicals inhibited photosynthesis, oxidative stress and antioxidant system stress response in the biofilms of V. natans leaves. Multifractal analysis found that the surface topography of V. natans leaves was altered due to the allelochemicals found in M. aeruginosa. Microbial diversity on the leaves was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing, and the results showed that M. aeruginosa exudates had a stronger effects on the microbial community structure of biofilms compared to extracts. These findings highlight how cyanobacterial allelochemicals induce negative effects on submerged macrophytes.

Keywords: Allelopathic effects; Microbial diversity; Multifractal analysis; Oxidative damage; Submerged macrophyte.

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Biodiversity
  • Biofilms / drug effects*
  • Biofilms / growth & development
  • Hydrocharitaceae / drug effects
  • Hydrocharitaceae / microbiology*
  • Hydrocharitaceae / physiology
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Microbiota / drug effects
  • Microbiota / genetics
  • Microcystis / chemistry*
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Pheromones / isolation & purification
  • Pheromones / pharmacology*
  • Photosynthesis / drug effects
  • Plant Leaves / microbiology
  • Plant Leaves / physiology

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Pheromones