S. obliquus cultures were subjected to various heavy metals (Cd, Co, Ni and Mn) in the presence or absence of calcium. Ca2+ increased the cell number (unicells or coenobia). Amounts of cell wall polysaccharides and soluble sugars were increased by the heavy metals used and decreased when Ca2+ was added, this perhaps being due to or resulting from inhibited cell division which did not allow the wall components to decrease by being distributed among daughter cells.
Scenedesmus obliquus cultures were subjected for 7 days to increasing levels of Cu+2 (1-60 μM). The cell number, dry weight, and chlorophyll content were reduced as the level of Cu+2 was raised. Photosynthetic oxygen evolution and respiratory oxygen uptake in the dark were also reduced, however, soluble protein contents were negatively affected by Cu+2. However, soluble carbohydrates and free amino acid content were variously increased by increased Cu+2 level. Free proline content was increased by up to 148% of that of the control, this being an indication of heavy metal stress.
This paper reports that selected low molecular hydrocarbons, i.e. hexane, cyclohexane and benzene added to cultures of the alga Scenedesmus obliquus (Chlorococcales), grown under auxotrophic and sterile conditions, inhibit the growth and stimulate the accumulation of cell wall carotenoids. The maternal cell walls contain: canthaxanthin, astaxanthin and its oxidation products, i.e. astacene and semiastacene, 2,3-didehydrofritschiellaxanthin and lutein. Samples of the cell walls obtained from homogenate also contain echinenone. The differences in cell wall carotenoids content of maternal cell walls and cell walls from homogenates of algal cells are discussed.