Cyanobacterial Toxins as Allelochemicals with Potential Applications as Algaecides, Herbicides and Insecticides

Abstract

Cyanobacteria ("blue-green algae") from marine and freshwater habitats are known to produce a diverse array of toxic or otherwise bioactive metabolites. However, the functional role of the vast majority of these compounds, particularly in terms of the physiology and ecology of the cyanobacteria that produce them, remains largely unknown. A limited number of studies have suggested that some of the compounds may have ecological roles as allelochemicals, specifically including compounds that may inhibit competing sympatric macrophytes, algae and microbes. These allelochemicals may also play a role in defense against potential predators and grazers, particularly aquatic invertebrates and their larvae. This review will discuss the existing evidence for the allelochemical roles of cyanobacterial toxins, as well as the potential for development and application of these compounds as algaecides, herbicides and insecticides, and specifically present relevant results from investigations into toxins of cyanobacteria from the Florida Everglades and associated waterways.

Advances in genetic engineering of marine algae

“…These peptides have been successfully integrated and transformed into the nuclei and chloroplasts of higher plants (DeGray et al, 2001, Jan et al, 2010. To prevent the prey from invertebrates, several allelochemicals from cyanobacteria can be introduced and expressed to defend against potential predators and grazers (Berry et al, 2008;Rastogi and Sinha, 2009). An ecological method could also be considered according to the relationship in the ecosystem (Hansen et al, 1993, Koski et al, 2005.…”

Cyanobacteria and Herbivorous Organisms: The Properties of Interspecific Interactions

“…их пðîäóöèðîâàíèå ñпåöèàëèзèðîâàííыìè êëåòêàìè îпðåäåëåííых âèäîâ è шòàììîâ (îäèí è òîò жå âèä ìîжåò îбðàзîâыâàòü òîêñè÷íыå è íåòîêñè÷íыå пîпóëÿöèè) ñâÿзàíî, êàê пðàâèëî, ñ пîÿâëåíèåì â эêîñèñòåìå âèäîâ-àíòàгîíèñòîâ èëè êîíêóðå-íòîâ. (2) Тîêñèíы/ñîâîêóпíîñòü òîêñèíîâ, êîòîðыå îòпóгèâàюò ðàñòèòåëüíîÿäíыå âèäы, îñóщåñòâëÿÿ фóíêöèè ðåпåëëåíòîâ è äåòåððåíòîâ, èëè îгðàíè÷èâàюò èх ðàзìíîжåíèå, íî íå âызыâàÿ ëåòàëüíîгî èñхîäà [5]. (3) Âòîðè÷íыå ìåòàбîëèòы, íàпðàâëåííыå пðîòèâ àâòîòðîфíых êîíêóðåíòîâ (öèàíîбàêòåðèé, ìèêðîâîäîðîñëåé è ò.ä.…”

“…Зà пîñëåäíèå 30 ëåò îпèñàíî ìíîгî пðèìåðîâ äîëгîñðî÷íых è ìíîгîñòîðîííèх ñèì-бèîòè÷åñêèх, àíòàгîíèñòè÷åñêèх è пàðàзèòè÷åñêèх ñâÿзåé, ñóщåñòâóющèх ìåжäó öèàíîбàêòåðèÿìè è ðàñòèòåëüíîÿäíыìè ÷ëåíèñòîíîгèìè ("grazers") â åñòåñòâåííых эêîñèñòåìàх è зàâèñÿщèх îò êîìпëåêñíых бèîхèìè÷åñêèх âзàèìîäåéñòâèé. Рåзóëü-òàòы èññëåäîâàíèé пîêàзыâàюò, ÷òî âòîðè÷íыå ìåòàбîëèòы öèàíîбàêòåðèé âыпîë-íÿюò зàщèòíóю фóíêöèю è зíà÷èòåëüíî îòëè÷àюòñÿ îò èзâåñòíых бèîòîêñèíîâ, пîðàжàющèх òåпëîêðîâíых жèâîòíых è гèäðîбèîíòîâ âî âðåìÿ "öâåòåíèé" âîäы [5]. Эòè âåщåñòâà âëèÿюò íà жèзíåííыå фóíêöèè êîíêóðåíòîâ è/èëè ðàñòèòåëü-íîÿäíых îðгàíèзìîâ, âызыâàÿ ñòðåññ, ðåпåëëåíòíыé è äåòåððåíòíыé эффåêòы (íî íå эëèìèíàöèю!)…”

“…Эòè âåщåñòâà âëèÿюò íà жèзíåííыå фóíêöèè êîíêóðåíòîâ è/èëè ðàñòèòåëü-íîÿäíых îðгàíèзìîâ, âызыâàÿ ñòðåññ, ðåпåëëåíòíыé è äåòåððåíòíыé эффåêòы (íî íå эëèìèíàöèю!) [5], è ñëóжàò âàжíыì èíñòðóìåíòîì â пîñòðîåíèè ìåжâèäîâых âзàèìîîòíîшåíèé â âîäíых эêîñèñòåìàх. Зàщèòíыå ðåàêöèè öèàíîбàêòåðèé î÷åíü бëèзêè ê пðîÿâëåíèÿì èíгèбèðóющåé àêòèâíîñòè ìèêðîâîäîðîñëåé è ìàêðîфèòîâ пî îòíîшåíèю ê ðàñòèòåëüíîÿäíыì êîíñóìåíòàì [10] èëè íàзåìíых ðàñòåíèé, êî-òîðыå пðîäóöèðóюò àëëåëîхèìè÷åñêèå âåщåñòâà äëÿ зàшèòы îò äðóгèх ðàñòåíèé èëè ìèêðîбíых пàòîгåíîâ [3,4,6].…”

Untitled

“…We regard cyanobacterial and microalgal secondary metabolites in the light of their defensive action, these substances stand in marked contrast to known biotoxins striking vertebrate animals during "water blooms" and "red tides" (Gol'din, 2009). The defensive activity has a disastrous influence on vital functions of competitors and/or plant-feeders, and causes stress, repellent and deterrent effects, but not obligatory death (Cembella, 2003;Amsler, 2008;Berry et al, 2008 responses are very close to inhibitory activity of terrestrial plants-producers of allelochemics for the defense from the other plants or herbivorous arthropods and microbial pathogens (Gol'din, 1995;2009;Gol'din and Gol'dina, 2002;Hay et al, 1987;Paul et al, 2007;Berge et al, 2010).…”