EFFECTS OF HEAVY METALS (Cu AND Zn) ON ACCUMULATION OF BIOMASS IN CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII AND ASTERARCYS QUADRICELLULARE

Abstract

The present work aims to know the effects of heavy metals such as copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) on growth and
accumulation of biomass i.e. content of chlorophylls in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii) and Asterarcys
quadricellulare (A. quadricellulare). Both the species are fresh water group of green algae which belong to class
chlorophyceae. Algal species were grown in tris-acetate phosphate (TAP) medium along with various concentrations
(0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 mg/l) of copper and zinc individually under in vitro conditions. In order to assess the
impact of heavy metals on both the algal species, in vitro grown log phase cells were used to estimate the chlorophyll a
and b including total chlorophylls. Best growth condition and high total chlorophyll content was observed at TAP with
0.2 mg/l of copper in A. quadricellulare, when compared to C. reinhardtii which preferred 0.4 mg/l to generate more
content. In zinc treatment, total chlorophyll content was more at 0.4 mg/l dose in A. quadricellulare and 1.6 mg/l dose in
C. reinhardtii and earlier one possess more biomass. In conclusion, both the species exhibited differential dose resistance
with the case of copper and zinc metals. Both being essential heavy metals, copper showed more toxicity when compared
to zinc metal.