Inhibitory metabolites production by the cyanobacterium Fischerella muscicola.

Broad-spectrum inhibitory metabolites were produced by a benthic cyanobacterium Fischerella muscicola (UTEX 1829) in batch culture. These metabolites inhibited the growth of eukaryotic algae, cyanobacteria and eubacteria. The effect of culture age on the production and leakage of these inhibitory metabolites from the cyanobacterium was studied. Confirmation of the presence of an allelochemical, possibly fischerellin was achieved using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The cyanobacterium produced inhibitory metabolites intracellularly at all stages of its growth cycle.