Evaluation of phytotoxicity and ecotoxicity potentials of a cyanobacterial extract containing microcystins under realistic environmental concentrations and in a soil–plant system

• We compared the impact of a cyanobacterial extract containing microcystins on seed germination of some plants.
• Effects of a cyanobacterial extract containing microcystins on growth of terrestrial plants are described.
• We report the impact of a cyanobacterial extract containing microcystins on some soil microbial parameters.
• Realistic environmental concentrations of microcystins increased the nitrification potential.
• Ammonia-oxidizing bacterial abundances was consistently impacted by a cyanobacterial extract containing microcystins.

The impact of a crude extract of Microcystis aeruginosa (PCC7820) containing 14 microcystin variants was investigated on seeds germination and radicles development of four agricultural plants: two tomato varieties Solanum lycopersicum (MicroTom and Saint-Pierre), the wheat Triticum aestivum and the lettuce Lactuca sativa. In addition, the effect of 14 d-exposure to irrigation water containing realistic concentrations of microcystins (0–0.1 mg eq. microcystin-LR L−1) on the tomato MicroTom seedling growth was further evaluated on roots and aerial part biomasses. Impacts on soil bacterial parameters, as such extracellular enzymatic activities, nitrification activity and abundances of ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms were also investigated. In germination-test, the cyanobacterial extract inhibited only the germination of the wheat seeds, with an EC50 of 11 mg eq. microcystin-LR L−1; which is 13 times lower than that of the cadmium chloride (EC50 of 145 mg L−1). Moreover, the cyanobacterial extract containing low concentrations of microcystins increased the growth of primary roots; however, high concentrations decreased it for all plants except for the wheat. In the soil–plant approach, only aerial part biomass of the tomato MicroTom was enhanced significantly. In addition, only soil nitrification potential and ammonia-oxidizing bacterial abundances were consistently impacted. A significant positive correlation (r = 0.56) was found between the increase of nitrification potential and abundances of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. This work suggested, that exposure to a cyanobacterial extract containing realistic environmental microcystins concentrations could affect seed germination, depending plant species. It was also highlighted, for the first time, disturbances in soil bacteria functioning, evidences on soil nitrification process.