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Atomic ratio of N to P influences the impact of UV irradiance on photosynthesis and growth in a marine dinoflagellate, Alexandrium tamarense

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

The effects of the atomic ratio of N to P (N:P) on the response of Alexandrium tamarense to UV radiation (UVR) were investigated in this study. Artificial sea water of 5 different N:P ratios for indoor culture and with 3 different N:P ratios for outdoor culture were used for a period of 14 and 9 d, respectively. The short-term response of cells to UVR was analyzed using a fluorometer. Cells that acclimated to nutrient conditions at the Redfield value (16:1) showed the fastest growth rate and highest pigment concentrations in both indoor and outdoor conditions, compared to those acclimated to the non-Redfield conditions. Moreover, these physiological parameters were functions of the N:P ratio according to a two-order equation (y = a + bx + cx2, R2>0.95). The fluorescence data of indoor cultures showed that A. tamarense grown at 16:1 (N:P) exhibited the greatest ratio of repair rate/damage rate (r/k) and minimum level of UVR-induced inhibition. among those grown at all of the N:P ratios following UVR exposure. Outdoor cultures had the same patterns of fluorescence as indoor cultures, but the less UVR-induced inhibitions were detected compared the former with the latter. The following three parameters, the r/k, level of inhibition caused by the two radiation treatments following 60 min of exposure (PAR and PAB, respectively), and level of UVR-induced inhibition, were also functions of the N:P ratio according to the two-order equation (R2>0.96). Further, there was a negative correlation between UVR-induced inhibition and the r/k ratio. In summary, the Redfield value (16:1) was the optimal nutrient stoichiometry for the protection of A. tamarense against the deleterious effects of UVR. Results were not impacted by previous light history experienced by cells.

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Abbreviations

ASW:

artificial sea water

Car:

carotenoids

Chl:

chlorophyll

DIN:

the dissolved inorganic N

DIP:

the dissolved inorganic P

k:

damage rate constant

OD:

optical density

P:

phosphorus

PAB:

photosynthetically active radiation plus UV-A and UV-B radiation

PMA:

personal measurement assistant

PSIN:

photon system instruments

r:

repair rate constant

UVabc :

ultraviolet absorbing compounds

UVR:

ultraviolet radiation

Y’:

effective photochemical efficiency of PSII

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation for Young Scholars of China (No. 41306106), the Zhejiang Province Natural Science Foundation (No. LY16D060005), and the Science Technology Department of Zhejiang Province (No. 2014F10005). We also thank the comments and suggestions of anonymous reviewers that helped us to improve this manuscript.

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  1. Department of Marine Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China

    W.C. Guan & L. Li

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  1. W.C. Guan
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  2. L. Li
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Correspondence to W.C. Guan.

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Guan, W., Li, L. Atomic ratio of N to P influences the impact of UV irradiance on photosynthesis and growth in a marine dinoflagellate, Alexandrium tamarense . Photosynthetica 55, 501–509 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0670-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0670-3

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