Effect of vanadium on growth, chlorophyll formation and iron metabolism in unicellular green algae

Abstract

In the presence of vanadium, growth of Scenedesmus obliquus and Chlorella pyrenoidosa was increased five to sixfold as determined by dry weight, when cultured under autotrophic conditions for 7 days. The stimulation by vanadium decreased with increasing stability towards hydrolysis of the iron(III)-compounds added. Pentavalent vanadium (20 mug V/1 as NH4VO3) was able to overcome completely a limited iron-deficiency in the algae following growth in presence of 1.8 - 10(-5) m ferric chloride. Vanadium did not alter the iron uptake into the algal cells. 90% of offered 48V was taken up by Scenedesmus obliquus during 5 days of growth, and 21% thereof were found in the chloroplast fraction. In presence of vanadium, the chlorophyll formation was stimulated in Scenedesmus obliquus. This stimulation by vanadium was found to be light-dependent but occurred to a certain extent in the dark also. The main porphyrin of the yellow mutant 211-11h/20 of Chlorella vulgaris was identified as protoporphyrin-IX. The formation of this compound was stimulated by vanadium within 10 days up to 83%. The role of vanadium in the biosynthesis of chlorophylls is discussed.

Rates of trace metal and nutrient diagenesis in an intertidal creek bank

“…It is therefore, possible that pore water V enrichments are not only a consequence of release from manganese oxide reduction but also of organic matter oxidation. Brown algae, for example, contain 2 mg kg À1 V that has probably been incorporated during photosynthesis as Vanadium is essential for chlorophyll synthesis (Meisch and Bielig, 1975). Therefore, decomposition of algal material once deposited in intertidal sediments may serve as an additional source of organically bound V to the pore waters.…”

Harmful Elements in Estuarine and Coastal Systems

“…It accumulates in bones, liver, kidney, muscles (Mackey et al 1996). When V is present at low quantities, it stimulates the biosynthesis of chlorophyll in green algae in the presence of light (Meisch and Bielig 1975 …”

Vanadium an essential element for some marine macroalgae

“…5.10 -8 M. Brown, green as well as red algae show varying contents from 0.3-10 lag g-1 dry weight (Yamamoto et al 1970). Vanadium could be presumed to play an active role in the metabolism of marine algae, as was previously found for some fresh-water algae belonging to Chlorophyta (Arnon and Wessel 1953;Meisch and Bielig 1975) and Heterocontae (Hesse 1974).…”