Methyl Parathion Induced Changes in Primary Photochemistry of A Natural Nitrogen Engineer Nostoc Punctiforme

Shantanu Bhattacharyya; Binata Nayak; Pratibha Rani Deep; Jayanta Kumar Sahu

Volume : III, Issue : VII, July - 2014

Methyl Parathion Induced Changes in Primary Photochemistry of A Natural Nitrogen Engineer Nostoc Punctiforme

Shantanu Bhattacharyya, Binata Nayak, Pratibha Rani Deep, Jayanta Kumar Sahu

Abstract :

Cyanobacteria are an ancient life form which can adapt themselves to a variety of extreme environments, including exposure to pesticides. The present study was under taken to investigate the influence of an organophosphate pesticide Methyl Parathion on the growth and photosynthetic properties of a rice field cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme. under controlled laboratory conditions. The test algae was isolated from the rice field soils near Sambalpur University,Jyoti Vihar, Western Odisha, India and grown in nitrogen free BG 11 culture medium. The growth rate of the organism declined with increasing incubation time as well as with increase in the concentration of pesticides. The pesticide exposure is clearly manifested with decrease in pigment and protein content. Increase in initial fluorescence (FO) and loss in photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) suggested alteration in oxygen evolving complex. Further, significant decrease in peak height of the absorption spectra in treated condition indicates loss in the pigments during the experimental periods with higher concentration of pesticides.