Cyanobacteria Hapalosiphon species
are able to synthesize secondary metabolites which could inhibit seed
germination and root growth of some plants. It has been reported that the Hapalosiphon extract
can reduce seed germination, shoot and root growth, root cell division and cell viability in
some plants. This study aimed to investigate seed germination, shoot length, root length and
cell viability of plant roots (Chinese cabbage, rice, giant mimosa
and toi ting) that were
exposed to crude methanolic extract of the Hapalosiphon at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 30 g DW L-1. The
results showed that the extract had no effect on seed germination of all the plants. The shoot
length of Chinese cabbage and giant mimosa was not inhibited whereas that of rice and toi
ting showed signifi cantly decreased at the highest concentration when compared with the
control. The extract inhibited root length, causing it to be less than 50% of the control in all
tested the plants when exposed to the highest concentration. Cell viability of plant root tips
were studied by Evans blue staining method. Giant mimosa and toi ting root tips signifi cantly
lost their cell viability when treated with the extract. These results indicated that
although the Hapalosiphon extract inhibited root length of all the
tested plants, it caused cell viability loss in root
tips only in giant mimosa and toi ting.