Driving forces for the growth of MIB-producing *Planktothricoides raciborskii* in a low-latitude reservoir


Abstract

In comparison with the middle- and high-latitude regions, the low-latitude regions are less associated with the occurrence of 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) episodes, since most of the previously identified MIB producers favor moderate/low light/temperature conditions. Here, we report a serious MIB outbreak over the period from Jul. 2018 to Jun. 2019 in a low-latitude reservoir with a mean annual water temperature of 25.6 °C. The MIB episode lasted for a long period, from Jul. 2018 to Jan. 2019, and Planktothricoides raciborskii was confirmed to be the main MIB producer. The growth characteristics of P. raciborskii were explored through both laboratory culturing and on-site verification experiments. The results indicated that this strain was not nutrient-sensitive at TN > 800 μg L$^{−1}$ and TP > 10 μg L$^{−1}$, but favored moderate light intensity (54 μmol photon m$^{−2}$⋅s$^{−1}$) and high temperature (30 °C). The two bloom-forming genera, Limnothrix and Aphanizomenon, favoring lower temperature and similar or relatively higher light intensity, showed much greater proliferation, about 13 folds (Limnothrix) and 58 folds (Aphanizomenon), from Dec. to Jun.; by contrast, the high water temperature (29.9 ± 2.8 °C) and light intensity (189.1 ± 87.6 μmol photon m$^{−2}$⋅s$^{−1}$) from Jul. to Nov. were not favorable to Limnothrix or Aphanizomenon, which might have created an opportunity for the growth of MIB-producing P. raciborskii. In addition, we also found that high temperature could promote the release of MIB from P. raciborskii cells, therefore exerting increased pressure on drinking water treatment processes.

Publication
In Water Research
Jinping Lu
Jinping Lu
Ph. D. Student
Ming Su
Ming Su
Associate Professor of Environmental Engneering

My research interest is water quality problems in drinking water bodies, with a focus on harmful algal blooms and associated taste & odor problems.

Tengxin Cao
Tengxin Cao
Ph. D. Student
Jiao Fang
Jiao Fang
Master Student
Min Yang
Min Yang
Professor of Environmental Engneering