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Physiological responses of macroalga Gracilaria lemaneiformis (Rhodophyta) to UV-B radiation exposure

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Abstract

This paper aims to evaluate the effects of ultraviolet-B radiation (UVBR) on Gracilaria lemaneiformis, a commercial red macroalga and an important source of agar. To study the in-vitro effect of UVBR on G. lemaneiformis, this plant was cultivated and exposed to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) at 40 μmol photons/(m2 ·s) and enhanced UVBR (0, 0.36, 0.72, 1.08, 1.44, and 1.80 kJ/(m2 ·d)) for 13 days. The samples were processed for histochemical analysis, and the growth rate, photosynthetic pigment contents, photosynthetic performance, reactive oxygen species levels, membrane permeability, malonyl dialdehyde contents and antioxidant capacity of G. lemaneiformis were investigated. After 13 days of exposure to PAR+UVBR, G. lemaneiformis showed photodamage and photoinhibition of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and phycoerythrin), leading to a decreased photosynthetic efficiency. Further, there was a corresponding decrease in the relative growth rates and depigmentation and partial necrosis of the apical segments were noted after exposure to PAR+UVBR. Additionally, UVBR induced excess production of superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide, eliciting a marked cellular membrane damage and antioxidative response.

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  1. Department of Marine Ecology, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China

    Lin Zhu  (朱琳), Hui Xiao  (肖慧), Ying Wang  (王影), Xiaoyang Jian  (菅潇扬), Zhipeng Zhang  (张智鹏), Huanxin Zhang  (张焕新) & Xuexi Tang  (唐学玺)

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Correspondence to Xuexi Tang  (唐学玺).

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Supported by the Joint Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Marine Science Research Center of People’s Government of Shandong Province (No. U1406403) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 3170458)

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Zhu, L., Xiao, H., Wang, Y. et al. Physiological responses of macroalga Gracilaria lemaneiformis (Rhodophyta) to UV-B radiation exposure. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 33, 389–399 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-015-4073-2

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