The effects of some pesticides on growth and antioxidant parameters of Arthrospira platensis M2

Pesiticides are important problems in world wide because they affect not only target organisms but also non-target organisms. The transport of pesticides from application areas to other areas results in pesticide contamination and unexpected enviromental problems. The determining the responses of phytoplanktonic organisms to pesiticides are important for understanding the effects of pesticides on aquatic ecosystems. In this study, A.platensis was exposed to different concentrations of pesiticides of Azadirachtin, Chlorpyrifos, Cypermethrin, Delthametrin, Dimethoate, Imidaclopride, and Thiaclopride. In this manner, changes in OD560, chlorophyll-a concentration and antioxidant parameters (SOD, APX, GR, MDA, H2O2 and proline) was determined. During the study, OD560 and chloropyll-a contents of A.platensis decreased with the increasing pesticide levels. Deltamethrin is the most toxic pesticide among the others. The Azadirachtin treatment caused to maximum decrease in SOD acitivity but the SOD activity increase according with the increase of pesiticide levels in Thiaclopride treatment. The maximum decrease of the APOD acitivity is observed in Imidaclopride treatment. The maximum decrease of the GR acitivity is observed in Cypermethrin treatment. The maximum increase of the MDA content is observed in Dimethoate treatment. While the maximum increase of the H2O2 content is observed in Azadirachtin treatment, the maximum increase of the proline is observed in Chlorpyrifos treatment. In conclusion, Deltamethrin is more toxic than the other pesticides according to concentrations. The enzyme activities did not change, however MDA and H2O2 contents are incerased with the treatment of Deltamethrin.