Tradescantia-Based Test Systems for Evaluating Toxic Potential of Harmful Algal Blooms

The study "Tradescantia-Based Test Systems Can Be Used for the Evaluation of the Toxic Potential of Harmful Algal Blooms" used two Tradescantia-based test systems to evaluate the genotoxic potential of harmful algal blooms (HABs). The research was conducted in the bays of Lake Sevan in Armenia. The study found that certain algal groups, including the green alga Botryococcus braunii and the cyanobacterial species Anabaena and Oscillatoria, could suppress stamen hair growth and trigger mutations. The study concluded that both the Tradescantia Stamen Hair Mutation (Trad-SHM) and Tradescantia Micronucleus (Trad-MN) tests are suitable for evaluating the toxic potential of HABs. The research also highlighted the global expansion of toxic and non-toxic cyanobacteria and their effects on ecosystem functioning.