Modulation of biocidal activity of Calothrix sp and Anabaena sp by environmental factors

An investigation was undertaken to evaluate a set of cyanobacterial strains in terms of production of biocidal compounds exhibiting allelochemical and fungicidal properties. Two cyanobacterial strains - Anabaena sp. and Calothrix sp. were selected for further investigation, on the basis of their larger inhibition zones on the lawn of Synechocystis and Synechococcus sp. and two phytopathogenic fungi - Rhizoctonia bataticola and Pythium debaryanum. The diameter of the inhibition zone was largest when extracellular filtrates of the two cultures incubated at high light intensity (90-100 mu mol photons m(-2) s(-1)) and temperature (40 +/- 2 A degrees C) or grown in medium containing two-folds higher P (1.4 mg/L, as compared to 0.7 mg/L in BG 11 medium) were taken. A pH of 8 was the most optimal for both strains, in terms of growth and biocidal activity. Partial purification of ethyl acetate extract using TLC, followed by GLC revealed a single peak. This study highlights the importance of environmental factors in aggravating or reducing the toxic effects of these harmful cyanobacteria and their potential as a biocontrol agent.