Domoic acid production by Pseudo-nitzschia calliantha Lundholm, Moestrup et Hasle (bacillariophyta) isolated from the Black Sea

A species of Pseudo-nitzschia isolated from Sevastopol Bay, Black Sea, was examined for its toxicity. The species was identified as P. calliantha Lundholm, Moestrup et Hasle based on SEM and TEM examination. Domoic acid (DA) was detected in batch culture throughout the growth cycle of P. calliantha. The production of DA by this diatom species was confirmed by fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (FMOC) derivatization and HPLC-fluorescence method. The cellular DA level was higher in the early exponential phase, with the maximum value of 0.95 pg DA cell−1. In the stationary phase, the cellular DA levels declined. This is the first record of a DA producing diatom isolated from the Black Sea.