Dosage impact of submerged plants extracts on Microcystis aeruginosa growth: From hormesis to inhibition

Allelopathy has been demonstrated to be an environmentally friendly way to control harmful algal blooms. Allelochemicals of submerged plants have attracted extensive research due to their bioavailability. The dose-response of submerged plant extracts on algae growth is worth further study to improve the efficiency of bioremediation. In this study, the ultrasonic-enzymatic assistance method was utilized to extract allelochemicals from Ceratophyllum, Myriophyllum spicatum, and Vallisneria. The effects of low-dosage and high-dosage extracts on the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa were compared based on cell biomass and morphology, photosynthetic parameters, reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The results showed that the three submerged plant extracts exhibited hormetic effects at low dosages and inhibitory effects at high dosages on algal growth. Within 48 h of cultivation, the enzymatic activities of Microcystis aeruginosa fluctuated, suggesting that the extracts of the three submerged plants induced different oxidative reactions. After 120 h of cultivation with high-dosage extracts, the physiological and biochemical reactions of Microcystis aeruginosa significantly decreased, indicating the effectiveness of the allelopathy of Ceratophyllum, Myriophyllum spicatum, and Vallisneria extracts in controlling algal blooms. The phenomenon of hormesis and inhibition effect confirmed a significant dose-response relationship between the allelochemicals of submerged plant extracts and Microcystis aeruginosa, which could be attributed to the composition and content of allelochemicals. These findings highlight the importance of the relative concentration of the biological algaecide and will benefit other researchers in determining the safe dosage of plant allelochemicals when used in water.