The effects of two different herbicides on the development and antioxidant parameters of Arthrospira platensis Gomont and Chlorella vulgaris Beyerinck

Pesticides are chemical mixtures used to prevent, control or reduce harmful organisms. The most common of those are herbicides, which are commonly used in agriculture, in order to nourish the growing world population. These chemicals, which are used for destroying wild or undesirable weeds, are subject to serious controversy due to their damage to other organisms rather than the target organism, to show their bioaccumulation and to be carried within the ecosystem. The chemicals especially affect the primary producers that constitute the most important link of the food chain affects the whole ecosystem. In this context, the impact of such chemicals on algae from aquatic ecosystem members is extremely important. In this study, chlorophyll-a and OD560 values decreased for 7 days in A. platensis algae exposed to Cambio herbicide while there was no significant change in SOD, APX and GR enzymes and H2O2 and MDA amounts, however proline amount was increased for 7 days. Chlorophyll-a and OD560 levels increased for 7 days in C. vulgaris algae exposed to the Cambio herbicide. In addition, although SOD, APX and GR enzymes showed initial increases and then decreases on the curve, these changes were not statistically significant. There was no significant change in the amounts of proline, MDA and H2O2. A significant decrease in chlorophyll-a and OD560 values was observed for 7 days in A. platensis algae exposed to different concentrations of Bentagram herbicide. SOD, APX and GR enzymes and MDA and H2O2 amounts showed no significant change, whereas prolin amount was decreased. In the C. vulgaris algae exposed to the same pesticide, the decrease in OD560 value was observed, while the increase in the amount of chlorophyll-a was significant for 7 days. There was no significant change in MDA, H2O2 and proline levels and SOD, APX and GR enzymes. As a result, in this study, changes in biomass and antioxidant parameters were found to be related to increasing concentrations of Cambio and Bentagram. Keywords: Bentagram, Cambio, antioxidant enzyme, herbicide, Chlorella vulgaris, Arthrospira platensis