The Effect of Copper on the Green Alga Pithophora oedogonia

• Published in: Weed science 1986-11, Vol.34 (6), p.842-849
• Main Authors: Pearlmutter, Nina L., Lembi, Carole A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ALGAE; ALGICIDAS; ALGICIDE; ALGICIDES; ALGUE; AQUATIC WEEDS; Calcium; CELL CULTURE; Cell walls; Copper; COPPER SULPHATE; CULTIVO DE CELULAS; CULTURE DE CELLULES; Cytoplasm; Freshwater; Germination; Magnesium; MALEZAS ACUATICAS; MAUVAISE HERBE AQUATIQUE; Physiology, Chemistry and Biochemistry; Pithophora oedogonia; Plants; Silver; SULFATE DE CUIVRE; SULFATO DE COBRE; Zinc
• ISSN: 0043-1745; 1550-2759
• DOI: 10.1017/S0043174500067989

Akinetes (spores) of the green, filamentous alga Pithophora oedogonia (Montagne) Wittrock were more copper resistant than filamentous cells, tolerating copper concentrations as high as 4 μg·ml-1 (16 μg·ml-1 copper sulfate pentahydrate). The localization of copper in viable and nonviable cells was conducted using cell fractionation and cytochemical/ultrastructural methods. In copper-exposed viable akinetes, copper was bound primarily to the outer layers of the cell wall. In nonviable cells, copper was found randomly distributed throughout the cytoplasmic and vacuolar regions. No evidence for compartmentation of copper as vacuolar or intranuclear deposits was demonstrated. Copper uptake into the cell wall was associated with release of equimolar amounts of calcium, magnesium, and zinc. When viable copper-treated akinetes were allowed to recover in copper-free medium, the copper was gradually released from the cell wall, presumably to the culture medium. A portion of the copper also appeared to be redistributed to new cell wall material during the akinete germination process. The differential tolerance of P. oedogonia akinetes to copper in comparison to filamentous cells appears to be due to a combination of factors that include cell surface/volume ratios, metabolic activity, and cell wall copper-binding components.