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Relationship between photosynthesis and non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence in two red algae with different carotenoid compositions

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Abstract

Algae are continuously exposed to short-term fluctuations in irradiance. We investigate how two red algae species regulate photosynthetic efficiency to cope with such changes and identify some strategies that differ from higher plants. Two red algae, Gracilaria domingensis and Kappaphycus alvarezii, with antheraxanthin and lutein as major xanthophylls, respectively, reacted to the onset of low light (below E k) with a substantial decrease of NPQ. This is different from higher plants, but similar to previous observations in, e.g. cyanobacteria where it indicates an increase in the effective absorbance cross-section of Photosystem II (PSII) by state transition. Kinetic studies in continuous light revealed a high susceptibility of PSII to light stress ((1-q P)/NPQ) in K. alvarezii immediately after the sudden onset of high light, followed by a decrease. This was caused by a slower onset of NPQ in K. alvarezii, followed by acclimation. In G. domingensis, susceptibility of PSII to light stress was stable with time, but absolute values of (1-q P)/NPQ were higher than in K. alvarezii. These observations suggest that K. alvarezii may be better adapted to high light levels, but is less well prepared for large sudden changes in irradiation. In K. alvarezii, photosynthesis continued to increase with increasing irradiation when NPQ was saturated. As (1-q P) and NPQ were still balanced in this situation, most likely, processes other than photosynthetic oxygen release are responsible for the increasing net O2 production observed.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support from the Sernanders Stiftelse, Uppsala University and the Stockholm Marine Research Centre is gratefully acknowledged. We are grateful to Professor Marianne Pedersén for valuable comments on the manuscript. All experiments comply with the current laws of Germany as well as Sweden. The authors thank Matthew Dring (Belfast) for his very valuable comments on and corrections of the first version of this publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aquatic Ecology, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3, 18051, Rostock, Germany

    Hendrik Schubert

  2. Plant Ecology, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Villavägen 14, 75236, Uppsala, Sweden

    Markus Andersson & Pauli Snoeijs

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  1. Hendrik Schubert
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  2. Markus Andersson
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  3. Pauli Snoeijs
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Correspondence to Hendrik Schubert.

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Communicated by M. Kühl, Helsingør

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Schubert, H., Andersson, M. & Snoeijs, P. Relationship between photosynthesis and non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence in two red algae with different carotenoid compositions. Mar Biol 149, 1003–1013 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-006-0265-9

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