Duckweed kills toxic algae by launching a surgical attack that breaks only one specific part of the algae's solar energy machinery.
Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, can produce dangerous toxins that choke out lakes and kill local wildlife. A small aquatic plant called Landoltia punctata has evolved a way to fight back by specifically targeting the algae's ability to photosynthesize. The duckweed releases chemicals that inactivate photosystem I in the algae while leaving photosystem II completely untouched. This targeted disruption triggers a programmed cell death response, causing the toxic algae to essentially commit suicide. Using this natural plant interaction could provide a safe, chemical-free way to clean up polluted waterways.
Algicidal effects of Landoltia punctata on Microcystis aeruginosa: asymmetric photosystem inhibition, programmed cell death, and environmental implications
SSRN · 6726758
The increasing frequency of Microcystis blooms highlights the urgent need for environmentally sustainable strategies to mitigate associated ecological and health risks. Floating aquatic macrophytes, particularly duckweed, have been proposed as nature-based solutions; however, their effectiveness, underlying mechanisms, and environmental impacts remain insufficiently understood. Here, we demonstrate that the duckweed (Landoltia punctata) exerts potent algicidal effects on toxic Microcystis aerugi