Ll. Rhodes, Identification of potentially toxic Pseudo-nitzschia (Bacillariophyceae) in New Zealand coastal waters, using lectins, NZ J MAR FR, 32(4), 1998, pp. 537-544
Citations number
23
Categorie Soggetti
Aquatic Sciences
Journal title
NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
Identification of species within the domoic acid-producing diatom genus Pse
udo-nitzschia is vital for biotoxin monitoring and decisions regarding shel
lfish harvesting, particularly when blooms are occurring. Several Pseudo-ni
tzschia species produce high concentrations of domoic acid per cell, wherea
s others are non-toxic, but all have similar morphologies using standard br
ightfield light microscopy. FITC-conjugated lectins discriminated between t
he New Zealand derived species tested in this study, except for P. delicati
ssima and P. pseudodelicatissima. These results differ from those reported
for Pseudo-nitzschia species isolated from Galician (Spanish) waters, which
suggests variability in production of surface sugars by these diatoms depe
nding on geographical origin and/or environmental conditions. Ribosomal RNA
-targeted oligonucleotide probes, at present being field trialled in severa
l countries including New Zealand and the United States, are therefore stil
l the preferred method of Pseudo-nitzschia species identification underpinn
ing New Zealand's biotoxin risk assessment programmes.