Volatile organic compound emissions from Microcystis aeruginosa under different phosphorus sources and concentrations

Abstract

SUMMARY In eutrophicated water, cyanobacteria massively grow and release an abundance of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to the water odor. To uncover the effects of different phosphorus (P) nutrients on the formation of cyanobacteria VOCs and water odor, the cell growth and VOC emissions of Microcystis aeruginosa were investigated under different P nutrient conditions. Among K2HPO4, Na4P2O7, and (NaPO3)6, K2HPO4 showed the largest increase in cell density, while a reduction in P concentration decreased the cell density. There were 26, 23 and 22 compounds in M. aeruginosa VOCs with K2HPO4, Na4P2O7 and (NaPO3)6 as the sole P source, respectively, including sulfocompounds, terpenoids, benzenes, hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, and esters. Non‐P markedly promoted the VOC emission, and six additional compounds were observed: α‐pinene, 1‐phenyl‐1‐butanone, 1H‐1‐ethylidene‐indene, 2,6,10‐trimethyl‐tetradecane, 2‐ethyl‐hexanal, and acetic acid 2‐ethylhexyl ester. It can be deduced that cyanobacteria release different VOC blends using various P forms in eutrophicated waters, and the reduction of P amount promotes VOC emission and increases the water odor.

Why Algae Release Volatile Organic Compounds—The Emission and Roles

“…When two typical algal species of cyanobacterial bloom Microcystis flos-aquae and M. aeruginosa were kept in the medium with K 2 HPO 4 , sodium pyrophosphate and sodium hexametaphosphate as the sole P source, they released different amount and components of VOCs, mainly including furans, sulfo compounds, terpenoids, benzenoids, hydrocarbons, aldehydes and esters. Meanwhile, non-P condition showed the maximum promoting effect on the VOC emission ( Ye et al, 2018 ; Zuo et al, 2018b ). In the field works, a negative relationship between geosmin amount and P concentration in reservoirs has also been found ( Dzialowski et al, 2009 ).…”

“…In aquatic ecosystems, algae can also release a wide spectrum of VOCs, including terpenoids, furans, sulfo compounds, alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and esters ( Walsh et al, 1998 ; Zuo et al, 2012a , b ; Xu et al, 2017 ), which are affected by environmental factors, such as light, temperature, nutrition conditions and abiotic stresses ( Bonsang et al, 2010 ; Zuo et al, 2012a , b ; Xu et al, 2017 ; Ye et al, 2018 ). Geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol ( Figure 1 ) released from cyanobacteria are two well-known terpenoids ( Suurnäkki et al, 2015 ), as they can cause earthy-musty odor of lake waters ( Jüttner, 1995 ; Huang et al, 2007 ).…”

β-Cyclocitral and derivatives: Emerging molecular signals serving multiple biological functions

“…Incidentally, this phenomenon can be problematic because it can generate unpleasant odor and can deteriorate water quality. β-Cyclocitral content of the cyanobacterium Microcystis was shown to be increased by high light or high temperature (Zheng et al, 2020) and by nutrient deficiency (Zuo et al, 2018;Ye et al, 2018). 6…”

Ocean Acidification Affects Volatile Infochemicals Production and Perception in Fauna and Flora Associated With Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile

“…parva). Previous studies focused on the changes in the VOCs production of macro-and microalgae in response to environmental factors, such as temperature, light, nutrition condition, water flow, and other abiotic factors (Bonsang et al, 2010;Zuo et al, 2012a;Xu et al, 2017;Ye et al, 2018). Altered behavioral responses under simulated ocean acidification had previously been investigated in assays at different pH levels for the invertebrates, but with algae grown under standard (ambient) pH conditions only, thus ignoring the potential of algal culture pH to alter the VOC composition (Maibam et al, 2015;Zupo et al, 2015;Mutalipassi et al, 2020).…”