APPLICATION OF ELECTRIC FIELDS TO CONTROL POPULATION GROWTH OF Dunaliella tertiolecta IN VITRO

Abstract

Algae blooms are naturally occurring phenomena that exist worldwide. Harmful blooms can create a noxious kill zone capable of suffocating fish and poisoning people. This paper explores the application of electrical fields as a way to control growth in an in vitro population of the green algae Dunaliella tertiolecta. Previous studies have shown pulses of electricity effective in the induction of programmed cell death in mammalian cells. Our results demonstrate that from the different currents applied, 40mA appears to be the lowest current at which we found significant difference between the mean number of cells in sample and control wells. The number of pulses applied was also important to obtain inactivation. Results show that by applying direct current to a population of Dunaliella tertiolecta in vitro we can affect motility and division of cells.