Identification of Cochlodinium polykrikoides against Gyrodinium impudicum and Gymnodinium catenatum in Field Samples using FITC Lectin Probes

We have investigated lectin binding patterns in order to apply binding records of previous laboratory experiments to field settings before the first ourbreaks of harmful algal bloom (HAB). Although cells were grown under different conditions, the binding patterns were the same as in the control. In addition, culture days was not associated with the binding patterns, when compared with the control. In nature, this results suggest that ECA, HPA and WGA lectin are able to discriminate between C. polykrikoides and G. impudicum, as well as ECA and SBA have a capability as a tool for differentiating between C. polyrikoides and G. catenatum, although these species are closely similar under the light microscope fiexed with Lugol solution.