Cyanobacterial and microalgal bioactive compounds – the role of secondary metabolites in allelopathic interactions

Secondary metabolites produced by plants, algae, bacteria and fungi may affect the growth and development of biological systems. This is a natural process which occurs worldwide and is known as allelopathy. A relatively small number of these allelopathic compounds has been identified. The majority of studies describe the inhibitory effect of investigated compounds, extracts, cell-free filtrates and living cells on other organisms, although stimulatory interactions have also been noticed. Allelopathic interactions in aquatic environments could provide a competitive advantage to some species over other primary producers. Furthermore, allelopathy occurs in all aquatic habitats and all groups of autotrophs are capable of producing and releasing allelopathically active compounds. Moreover, secondary metabolites obtained from phytoplankton could demonstrate other useful bioactive properties. This review is intended to summarize the current knowledge of allelopathic interactions between microalgae and cyanobacteria in aquatic environments, as well as to provide a brief overview of the ecological importance of these interactions and their potential practical application in different branches of industry.