Light acclimation in Porphyridium purpureum (Rhodophyta): Growth, photosynthesis, and phycobilisomes

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Journal of Phycology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-8817.1988.tb04247.x· OSTI ID:5047032

Levy, I; Gantt, E ^[1]

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1. Smithsonian Institution, WA (USA)

Acclimation to three photon flux densities 10, 35, 180 {mu}E{center dot}m{sup {minus}2}{center dot}s{sup {minus}1} was determined in laboratory cultures of Porphyridium purpureum Bory, Drew and Ross. Cultures grown at low, medium, and high PPFDs had compensation points of <3, 6, and 20 {mu}E{center dot}m{sup {minus}2}{center dot}s{sup {minus}1}, respectively, and saturating irradiances in the initial log phase of 90, 115, 175 {mu}E{center dot}m{sup {minus}2}{center dot}s{sup {minus}1} and up to 240 {mu}E{center dot}m{sup {minus}2}{center dot}s{sup {minus}1} in late log phase. High light cells had the smallest photosynthetic unit size (phycobiliproteins plus chlorophyll), the highest photosynthetic capacity, and the highest growth rates. Photosystem I reaction centers (P700) per cell remained proportional to chlorophyll at ca. 110 chl/P700. However, phycobiliprotein content decreased as did the phycobilisome number (ca. 50%) in high light cells, whereas the phycobilisome size remained the same as in medium and low light cells. We concluded that acclimation of this red alga to varied PPFDs was manifested by the plasticity of the photosystem II antennae with little, if any, affect noted on photosystem I.

• DOE Contract Number: AS05-76ER04310
• OSTI ID: 5047032
• Journal Information: Journal of Phycology; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Phycology; (USA) Vol. 24:4; ISSN 0022-3646; ISSN JPYLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

551000* -- Physiological Systems
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALGAE
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLOROPHYLL
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FLUX DENSITY
GROWTH
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PHOTOSYNTHETIC REACTION CENTERS
PHYCOBILISOMES
PHYTOCHROMES
PIGMENTS
PLANTS
PORPHYRINS
PROTEINS
RADIANT FLUX DENSITY
RADIATIONS
SYNTHESIS
VISIBLE RADIATION