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Effects of light intensity and temperature on the photosynthetic irradiance response curves and chlorophyll fluorescence in three picocyanobacterial strains of Synechococcus

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Chrococcoid cyanobacteria of the genus Synechococcus are the important component of marine and freshwater ecosystems. Picocyanobacteria comprise even 80% of total cyanobacterial biomass and contribute to 50% of total primary cyanobacterial bloom production. Chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence and photosynthetic light response (P-I) curves are commonly used to characterize photoacclimation of Synechococcus strains. Three brackish, picocyanobacterial strains of Synechococcus (BA-132, BA-124, BA-120) were studied. They were grown under 4 irradiances [10, 55, 100, and 145 μmol(photon) m−2 s−1] and at 3 temperatures (15, 22.5, and 30°C). Photosynthetic rate was measured by Clark oxygen electrode, whereas the Chl fluorescence was measured using Pulse Amplitude Modulation fluorometer. Based on P-I, two mechanisms of photoacclimation were recognized in Synechococcus. The maximum value of maximum rate of photosynthesis (P max) expressed per biomass unit at 10 μmol(photon) m−2 s−1 indicated a change in the number of photosynthetic units (PSU). The constant values of initial slope of photosynthetic light response curve (α) and the maximum value of P max expressed per Chl unit at 145 μmol(photon) m−2 s−1 indicated another mechanism, i.e. a change in PSU size. These two mechanisms caused changes in photosynthetic rate and its parameters (compensation point, α, saturation irradiance, dark respiration, P max) upon the influence of different irradiance and temperature. High irradiance had a negative effect on fluorescence parameters, such as the maximum quantum yield and effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (φPSII), but it was higher in case of φPSII.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA :

analysis of variance

CCBA:

Culture Collection of Baltic Algae

Chl:

chlorophyll

I K :

saturation irradiance

FV/FM :

maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry

N:

number of cells

OD:

optical density

PAR:

photosynthetically active radiation

PAM:

Pulse Amplitude Modulation

CP:

compensation point

P-I :

photosynthetic light response

P max :

maximum photosynthetic rate

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

PSU:

photosynthetic units

R D :

dark respiration rate

TEM:

transmission electron microscope

ΦPSII :

effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry

α:

initial slope of photosynthetic light response curve

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Marine Plant Ecophysiology, Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, Piłsudskiego Av. 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland

    S. Jodłowska & S. Śliwińska

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  1. S. Jodłowska
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  2. S. Śliwińska
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Correspondence to S. Jodłowska.

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Acknowledgements: This study was supported by research grant issued by the Council for Science — Poland (N304 3278 36) and by the University of Gdańsk (BW/G245-5-0233-9, BW/G245-5-0502-0).

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Jodłowska, S., Śliwińska, S. Effects of light intensity and temperature on the photosynthetic irradiance response curves and chlorophyll fluorescence in three picocyanobacterial strains of Synechococcus . Photosynthetica 52, 223–232 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-014-0024-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-014-0024-y

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