TOXICITY POTENTIAL OF A TEXTILE DYE TOWARD THE DIAZOTROPHIC CYANOBACTERIUM NOSTOC-MUSCORUM ISU

The impact of graded concentrations (5, 10, 15, and 20 mg L-1) of Omeg a Chrome Red ME, a common dye used in woollen, carpet, and textile ind ustries, on protein production, pigment content, and photosynthetic ox ygen evolution in a diazotrophic cyanobacterium Nostoc muscorum ISU, w as studied. All concentrations were found to be inhibitory, with lower concentrations (5 mg L-1) producing a negligible effect, while higher concentrations produced a dramatic decrease in the parameters observe d. The highest concentration of dye tested (20 mg L-1) resulted in a d ecrease in protein, chlorophyll a, phycocyanin, and carotenoid content of 82.20, 82.69, 46.20 and 41% of control, respectively. Photosynthet ic oxygen evolution was decreased by 83.50% of control at the highest dye concentration. (C) 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.