International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Biological Sciences 2278 - 3202 6 2 2017 02 10 Distribution of microcystin synthetase genes in filamentous cyanobacterial phytoplankton and production of microcystin in water samples collected from Eastern Madhya Pradesh, India 22 29 EN Sarkar Ajanta 1 Department of Aquaculture Management and Technology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal, India Patra A.K. 2 Department of Aquaculture Management and Technology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal, India Sar Utpal Kumar 3 Department of Aquaculture Management and Technology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal, India Mohamed Erchafo 1 Department of Biology, Arba Minch University, P.O. Box 21, Arba Minch, Ethiopia Kebebew Mulugeta 2 Department of Biology, Arba Minch University, P.O. Box 21, Arba Minch, Ethiopia Awas Tesfaye 3 Department of Biology, Arba Minch University, P.O. Box 21, Arba Minch, Ethiopia M.A. Kaisar 1 Department of Fisheries Technology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh M.G. Rasul 2 Department of Fisheries Technology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh M.A. Mansur 3 Department of Fisheries Technology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh M. Khan 4 Department of Fisheries Technology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh B.C. Majumdar 5 Department of Fisheries Technology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh M.M. Hasan 6 Department of Fisheries Technology and Quality Control, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh Chaturvedi Prashant 1 Cyanobacterial Research Laboratory, Department of Post Graduate Studies and Research in Biological Science, Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur, MP, India Singh Trashi 2 Cyanobacterial Research Laboratory, Department of Post Graduate Studies and Research in Biological Science, Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur, MP, India Bagchi Suvendra Nath 3 Cyanobacterial Research Laboratory, Department of Post Graduate Studies and Research in Biological Science, Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur, MP, India > Research Paper 2016 11 29 2017 02 10 The important value index, which is sum of relative abundance, biovolume and frequency, was calculated for different cyanobacterial genera present in phytoplankton scum/mat material in ten water bodies located in three districts of Eastern Madhya Pradesh. All such scum/mat samples were dominated by cyanobacteria mostly belonging to the genera Oscillatoria, Anabaena, Nostoc, Phormidium and Spirulina. The microcystin synthetase genes (mcyABDE) were detected in all cyanobacterial scum/mats samples indicating that toxic genotypes of cyanobacteria constituted the populations. Despite ubiquitous presence, mcy genes displayed quite a patchy distribution pattern, and rarely all the four genes were present together. Present study showed amplification of mcyA (80%), mcyB (60%), mcyD (50%) and mcyE (80%) genes. The dissolved microcystin content in the waters harbouring cyanobacterial populations was determined by semi-quantitative ELISA. About 30% water bodies contained the free microcystins below 0.5 ppb, whereas the remaining ones showed presence of the toxin in a range of 0.5-3.0 ppb. These values are well below 1 µg L-1 microcystin, a benchmark set for safe use of water for drinking and recreational purposes according to WHO guidelines. Copyright@ International Science Community Association