Effects of copper ion on the growth of Isochrysis zhanjiangensis

In this experiment, the effects of Cu on the growth of Isochrysis zhanjiangensis were studied. The results showed that copper ion produced positive effect on the growth of Isochrysis zhanjiangensis when the concentration of Cu in culture solution was lower than 10-6 mol/L. When the concentration of Cu was 10-7 mol/L, Isochrysis zhanjiangensis grew relatively fast. Furthermore, Isochrysis zhanjiangensis was comparatively higher in contents of chlorophyll and soluble protein, lower in the membrane permeability, MDA content and O-2 generation rate, and stronger in SOD activity, compared to the alga in control. All of these illustrated that 10-7 mol/L Cu could make Isochrysis zhanjiangensis grow very well, with the bio-chemical and physiological functions of the cell in optimum status.