Effect of Bensulfuron-Methyl on Growth of Chlorella pyrenoidosa

To study the growth effects of differing concentrations of bensulfuron-methyl on Chlorella pyrenoidosa and to evaluate the ecological risk, the effects of bensulfuron-methyl on the growth and the content change of chlorophyll and protein in Chlorella pyrenoidosa were studied through 96 h acute toxicity tests. Bensulfuron-methyl accelerated the growth of algae at lower concentrations (< 1 mg L−1) with content increase of chlorophyll or protein, and it inhibited the growth of algae at higher concentrations (>5 mg L−1). The content of chlorophyll or protein in algae cells reduced with the increasing concentration of bensulfuron-methyl, exhibiting the good concentration-effect relationship. The 96 h-EC50 of bensulfuron-methyl upon the algae was 15.7 mg L−1. Bensulfuron-methyl has inhibiting effect on the growth of Chlorella pyrenoidosa and is low in toxicity.