Effects of varying concentrations of lead acetate on growth and morphology of the pennate diatom, Nitzschia palea Kütz.(Class Bacillariophyceae)

Date

4-2000

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Major Course

Major in Cell Biology

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Milagrosa, R. Martinez-Goss

Abstract

The effects of different concentrations of lead acetate, PbAc, (0 ppm, 2 ppm, 4 ppm, and 6 ppm) in the basal inorganic medium (Tanada's medium) on the unialgal pennate diatom, Nitzschia palea Kutz., was studied for its growth and morphology in vitro. The study showed a significant increase in growth of the alga (a = 0.05) at 2 ppm PbAc over the other treatments. Maximum absorption of 0.47 at 675 nm was observed at 2 ppm, followed by 0.31, 0.29, and 0.16 for 0 ppm, 4 ppm, and 6 ppm PbAc, respectively. At logarithmic phase of growth of the diatom, its chlorophyll content, fresh weight and cell density were determined in the four treatments. Chlorophyll a concentration was significantly higher (a = 0.05) than chlorophyll c in all treatments. Chlorophyll a concentration was highest at 2 ppm (4.1052 ug m1-1) and least at 6 ppm (1.941 ug ml-'). Chlorophyll c concentration was observed highest in 0 ppm PbAc with 1.53057 ptg me followed by 4 ppm, 2 ppm, and 6 ppm PbAc with values at 1.41807 mg m1.1, 0.21395 lig m1-1 and 0.099402 pg m1-1, respectively. There was no significant difference among the treatments in their dimensions. The dimensions of the cells ranged from 21.6 pm x 3.7 pm (length x width) in 6 ppm PbAc up to 23.1 pm x 3.7 pm in 2 ppm PbAc. There was a decrease in the size of the chromoplast in 4 ppm and 6 ppm as compared to the control, although its golden brown color was maintained in all treatments.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

Thesis

Document Type

Thesis

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