Effects of two algicidal substances, ortho-tyrosine and urocanic acid, on the growth and physiology of Heterosoigma akashiwo

Highlights: • Algicidal mechanism of o-tyrosine and urocanic acid was studied for the first time. • Algicidal response was measured with flow cytometry and PAM fluorometry. • Two algicidal substances destroyed the membrane integrity and mitochondria of algae. • o-Tyrosine and urocanic acid have potential to become new biological algicides. Heterosigma akashiwo is a commonly found harmful microalgae, however, there are only few studies on its control using algicidal components particularly those identified from algicidal bacteria. In our previous study, ortho-tyrosine and urocanic acid identified from Bacillus sp. B1 showed a significantly high algicidal effect on H. akashiwo. The growth inhibition rates of H. akashiwo after 96 h of treatment with 300 μg/mL o-tyrosine and 500 μg/mL urocanic acid were 91.06% and 88.07%, respectively. Through non-destructive testing by Pulse Amplitude Modulation fluorometry and flow cytometer, the effects of o-tyrosine and urocanic acid on H. akashiwo PS II and physiological parameters (cell volume, mitochondrial membrane potential, and membrane permeability) were estimated. This study shows that o-tyrosine affected the photosynthesis system of H. akashiwo, decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased the membrane permeability of the algal cells. Treatment with urocanic acid decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential, resulting in the inhibition of algal cell growth and reproduction, but had little effect on membrane permeability and photosynthetic system. Our results may imply that when uridine degrades, surviving H. akashiwo cells may be reactivated. Therefore, o-tyrosine and urocanic acid have the potential to become new biological algicides, which can effectively control the growth of H. akashiwo.