Cell division of ggeneflesmus quadricauda (Turp.) Breb. (Scenedesmaceae) is enhanced by methylglyoxal, a general inhibitor of cell division, at threshold concentration in conjunction with treatment timing related to growth stage of batch cultures. At 0.5 mM methylglyoxal concentration, cell division was significantly enhanced in algae treated in the logarithmic phase. Specific growth rates of methylglyoxal-treated cultures were rapidly increased at the beginning of logarithmic phase. Cultures inoculated with high cell numbers were less sensitive, but still showed high specific growth rates in logarithmic phase. Cell division in cultures which had low cell numbers was inhibited by 0.5 mM methylglyoxal treatment. Both specific activity of Glyoxalase I and the ratio of Glyoxalase I to Glyoxalase II of methylgloxal-treated cultures were higher than those of controls (1.3 and 2.1- fold, respectively). Pyruvate concentration in treated cultures was increased after methylglyoxal treatment.