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Iodine contributes to osmotic acclimatisation in the kelp Laminaria digitata (Phaeophyceae)

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Abstract

Iodide (I−) retained by the brown macroalga Laminaria digitata at millimolar levels, possesses antioxidant activities, but the wider physiological significance of its accumulation remains poorly understood. In its natural habitat in the lower intertidal, L. digitata experiences salinity changes and osmotic homeostasis is achieved by regulating the organic osmolyte mannitol. However, I− may also holds an osmotic function. Here, impacts of hypo- and hypersaline conditions on I− release from, and accumulation by, L. digitata were assessed. Additionally, mannitol accumulation was determined at high salinities, and physiological responses to externally elevated iodine concentrations and salinities were characterised by chl a fluorometry. Net I− release rates increased with decreasing salinity. I− was accumulated at normal (35 S A) and high salinities (50 S A); this coincided with enhanced rETRmax and qP causing pronounced photoprotection capabilities via NPQ. At 50 S A elevated tissue iodine levels impeded the well-established response of mannitol accumulation and prevented photoinhibition. Contrarily, low tissue iodine levels limited photoprotection capabilities and resulted in photoinhibition at 50 S A, even though mannitol was accumulated. The results indicate a, so far, undescribed osmotic function of I− in L. digitata and, thus, multifunctional principles of this halogen in kelps. The osmotic function of mannitol may have been substituted by that of I− under hypersaline conditions, suggesting a complementary role of inorganic and organic solutes under salinity stress. This study also provides first evidence that iodine accumulation in L. digitata positively affects photo-physiology.

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Abbreviations

chl a :

Chlorophyll a

DW:

Dry weight

E 50 :

Irradiance at which 50 % of NPQmax is attained

E k :

Light saturation coefficient of P/E curve

E PAR :

Irradiance in the photosynthetically active wavelength range of 400–700 nm

FW:

Fresh weight

F v/F m :

Maximum PSII efficiency measured after dark acclimation

NPQ:

Non-photochemical quenching of chl a fluorescence

P/E curve:

Photosynthesis vs. irradiance curve with rETR as a function of E PAR

PSII:

Photosystem II

qP :

Photochemical quenching of chl a fluorescence

rETR:

Relative electron transport rate through PSII

RGR:

Relative growth rate

S A :

Absolute salinity

vIPO:

Vanadium-dependent iodoperoxidase

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Professor Frithjof C. Küpper (Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen) for enriching the discussion on the physiological function of iodine in kelps and Matthias Schmid (Botany and Plant Science, School of Natural Sciences, and Ryan Institute, NUI Galway) for technical assistance. Financial support from the Irish Research Council (IRC, Embark Initiative) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA large-scale project: ‘Exchange at the Air-Sea Interface: Air Quality & Climate ImpactS’ 2007-CCRP-5.5) is gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Botany and Plant Science, School of Natural Sciences, and Ryan Institute for Environmental, Marine and Energy Research, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland

    Udo Nitschke & Dagmar B. Stengel

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  1. Udo Nitschke
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Correspondence to Udo Nitschke.

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Nitschke, U., Stengel, D.B. Iodine contributes to osmotic acclimatisation in the kelp Laminaria digitata (Phaeophyceae). Planta 239, 521–530 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-013-1992-z

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