effects of cadmiumand dimethoateon some biological and biochemical indicesin fresh water green algae, spirogyrasp.

The present study investigatesthe influence of an organophosphorus pesticide, namelydimethoate, and cadmiumon biomarkersof the green alga, spirogyra sp.,in a 14-day experiment.for so doing, it has exposedspirogyrasp.to 0.0, 100, 200,and 400 gl-1of dimethoate and/or 1 mg l-1of cadmium chloride (cdcl2)to observea reductionin chlorophyll a and b levelin spirogyra sp.,exposed to200 and 400 gl-1of dimethoateas well asalgae treated with cadmiumalone or in combination with dimethoate.levels of malondialdehyde(mda) and total antioxidant in cells, as well as the activity of ascorbate peroxidase(apx)soar in spirogyra sp.,exposed todimethoateand/or cadmium(alone or simultaneously).alsospirogyra’sexposure to cadmiumand/ordimethoatesignificantly increases catalase(cat)activity. however, levels of carotenoids in spirogyra sp.,treated with both cadmiumand dimethoate,decline significantly,with nosignificant changefound in catalase activity of spirogyra sp.,exposed to100 and 200 g l-1of dimethoate,in comparisontothe control group. however,cat activity rises significantlyin spirogyra sp.,treated with 400 g l-1of dimethoate. cadmiumcan cause cytotoxicity in 1 mg l-1concentration ofthe green algae(spirogyra sp.).on the whole, investigating the biological and biochemical markersin spirogyra sp.,exposed to different concentrations of dimethoate,has revealedsome concentration-dependent toxicity. furthermore, dimethoatecan synergistically increasetoxicity and bioavailability of cadmiumin spirogyra sp.