Effects of temperature, irradiance and photoperiod on growth and pigment content in some freshwater red algae in culture

Abstract

SUMMARY The responses of relative growth rate (% day‐1) and pigment content (chlorophyll a, phycocyanin and phycoerythrin) to temperature, irradiance and photoperiod were analyzed in culture in seven freshwater red algae: Audouinella hermannii (Roth) Duby, Audouinella pygmaea (Kützing) Weber‐van Bosse, Batrachospermum ambiguum Montagne, Batrachospermum delicatulum (Skuja) Necchi et Entwisle,‘Chantransia’ stages of B. delicatulum and Batrachospermum macrosporum Montagne and Compsopogon coeruleus (C. Agardh) Montagne. Experimental conditions included temperatures of 10, 15, 20 and 25°C and low and high irradiances (65 and 300 μmol photons m−2 s−1, respectively). Long and short day lengths (16:8 and 8:16 LD cycles) were also applied at the two irradiances. Growth effects of temperature and irradiance were evident in most algae tested, and there were significant interactions among treatments. Most freshwater red algae had the best growth under low irradiance, confirming the preference of freshwater red algae for low light regimens. In general there was highest growth rate in long days and low irradiance. Growth optima in relation to temperature were species‐specific and also varied between low and high irradiances for the same alga. The most significant differences in pigment content were related to temperature, whereas few significant differences could be attributed to variation in irradiance and photoperiod or interactions among the three parameters. The responses were species‐specific and also differed for pigments in distinct temperatures, irradiances and photoperiods in the same alga. Phycocyanin was generally more concentrated than phycoerythrin and phycobiliproteins were more concentrated than chlorophyll a. The highest total pigment contents were found in two species typical of shaded habitats: A. hermannii and C. coeruleus. The expected inverse relationship of pigment with irradiance was observed only in C. coeruleus. In general, the most favorable conditions for growth were not coincident with those with highest pigment contents.

Seasonal variations in the phenolic compound content and antioxidant activities of three selected species of seaweeds from Tiskerth islet, Bejaia, Algeria

“…It could be that the annual variation in phenolic content are dependent on a diverse species composition, as well as on the different environmental conditions obtaining in each season. The phenolic compound content of macroalgae varies with the reproductive stage of algae [19,37] and with the physical factors such as light density and quality, photoperiod and temperature [4]. In order to survive under the worst conditions, algae contain some unique components not discovered in plants and these components differ according to algal species [38].…”

Photoacclimation in a tropical population of Cladophora glomerata (L.) Kützing 1843 (Chlorophyta) from southeastern Brazil

“…Plants were acclimated to two levels of irradiance: low (65 ± 5 mmol.m ). These two levels were used in a previous study (Zucchi and Necchi, 2001) and were shown to induce responses in growth and pigment content in freshwater red algae. In order to evaluate temporal variation in responses to photoacclimation, plants were exposed to the two levels of irradiance for a short-term (4 days) and long-term (28 days), both under a light-dark cycle of 12: 12 hours.…”

Photosynthetic performance of two freshwater red algal species

“…1). Zucchi and Necchi (2001) found growth optimum for Batrachospermum species at 20 °C along with a preference for low light intensity (65 µmol m -2 s -1 ). Necchi and Zucchi (2001), Necchi and Alves (2005) and Drerup et al (2015) conducted photosynthesis measurements at 20 °C and found differences between Batrachospermum species light optima for photosynthetic production.…”

“…when a short temperature adaptation time was used before measurement; however, Kremer (1983) found a lower temperature optimum (15 °C) if the adaptation time was longer, and suggested that the use of a longer adaptation time is needed. Necchi and Zucchi (2001), Zucchi and Necchi (2001), Necchi and Alves (2005) and Drerup et al (2015) investigated Rhodophyta species, including Batrachospermum species (On-line Suppl. Tab.…”

“…It was shown that low irradiance is advantageous for the growth of red algae species. Species-specific temperature optima of the growth were established by Zucchi and Necchi (2001) and Drerup et al (2015).…”