Abstract
Six geographical isolates of Rhodochorton purpureum (Lightfoot) Rosenvinge (Rhodophyta, Nemalionales) formed tetrasporangia only in short days at 10°C. For most isolates, the critical day-length increased with latitude of origin from 9.5 h for an isolate from California to 14.5 h for one from Antarctica. Tetrasporangium production could be induced by 9–15 short-day cycles followed by a further 22–28 cycles in long days. A night-break consisting of 1 h of white light in the middle of a 16-h dark period inhibited the short-day response of isolates from low latitudes, but not those from higher latitudes. When a similar night-break was given in the middle of a 14-h dark period, however, the response of all isolates was at least partially inhibited. Night-breaks given at any time in the central 7 h of a 14-h dark period were equally inhibitory. Broad-band red light (0.3–0.4 mmol m-2), given as a night-break, caused 50% inhibition of the short-day response. At a slightly higher photon exposure (0.6 mmol m-2, given as 1 μmol m-2 s-1 for 10 min), narrow-band red (662 nm) and blue (448 nm) light caused similar inhibition, but green (547 nm) and far-red (731 nm) were ineffective as night-breaks. The inhibitory effect of a 10-min night-break with red light could not be reversed by subsequent exposure to an equal photon exposure of far-red light. These results add to the existing evidence that the pigments mediating photoperiodic responses among algae are more varied than those among flowering plants.
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Abbreviations
- LD:
-
long day
- SD:
-
short day
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Dring, M.J., West, J.A. Photoperiodic control of tetrasporangium formation in the red alga Rhodochorton purpureum . Planta 159, 143–150 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392985
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392985