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The effects of cyanobacteria aqueous extracts containing Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) on the seed germination and growth of Pisum sativum, Lens esculenta, Zea mays and Triticum durum were investigated. Experiments were carried out on a range of doses of the extract (equivalent to 0, 1.6, 2.9, 5.8, 8.7 and 11.6 mu g MC-LR/mL). The results confirm that these plants were sensitive to cell-free extracts of a toxic Microcystis and that germination inhibition was dose dependent. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that P. sativum is the most sensitive tested species with a 97% germination rate reduction and L. esculenta was the most resistant. At the 8th day, the exposure to the microcystins (MC) resulted in a significant decrease of plant epicotyls length, roots length and a net inhibition of lateral root formation. It is concluded that MC could affect also terrestrial plants seedling germination and growth. Therefore, the use of water for irrigation contaminated by MC could exert negative biochemical effects on seed and plant metabolism which might influence the agricultural crops.

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This paper presents results of two years of investigations on three types of wastewater stabilization pond treatment systems, purifying a raw urban wastewater, in the arid climate of Marrakesh. The systems tested were: two lined water hyacinth ponds, two lined facultative ponds and one anaerobic pond. During the course of the experiment, organic load, nutrients and parasitical load were studied. Results show that the macrophytic ponds were more efficient to reduce organic load (90% of TSS and 78% of COD) that the microphtic ponds; these ones were more efficient to eliminate nutrients (NTK 71%, NH4 60%, Ptotal 80% and PO4 62%). The anaerobic pond presents a lower efficiency, less than 40% for organic and less than 20% for nutrients. About sanitary concerns, all of the year, the macrophytic and microphytic pond effluents correspond to B category (WHO, 1989). The anaerobic pond yields B category effluent except in autumn when it corresponds to C category.