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Light acclimatisation of Elodea nuttallii grown under ambient DIC conditions

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Abstract

Light acclimatisation capabilities of Elodea nuttallii at nearly ambient DIC conditions were investigated by determining growth characteristics, main photosynthetic parameters and pigmentation of plants incubated at 5 different irradiances (10–146 μmol photons m−2 s−1). Positive net growth was observed under all light treatments tested. Maximum ratio root versus shoot (r:s) of 1.86 was achieved at medium irradiances (72–94 μmol photons m−2 s−1), whereas at low (10 μmol photons m−2 s−1) and high irradiances (146 μmol photons m−2 s−1) r:s was significantly lower (0.39 and 1.05, respectively). With respect to main photosynthetic parameters, an increase of light compensation points (E c), attended by decreasing ratios of light saturation points of photosynthesis (E k)/irradiance were observed. E c values were comparable to other low-light adapted macrophytes, which indicate that E. nuttallii can be regarded as a low-light adapted plant, under photorespiratory conditions. This was also confirmed by maximum E k values of just 73 μmol photons m−2 s−1. Further support was achieved from pigmentation and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) data, both indicating rather limited acclimatisation ability at light treatments above 90 μmol photons m−2 s−1. These results are discussed with respect to the competitive abilities of E. nuttallii under nearly ambient (photorespiratory) DIC conditions, especially in dense stands and turbid phytoplankton-dominated waters.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Claudia Lott for pigment analysing services, Ina Siebert for DIC analysing services and several technicians particularly Karsten Rahn for collecting water, sediment and seeds of E. nuttallii from Lake Goitsche. We greatly appreciate the comments given by Walter Geller, Sven Halbedel and Kerstin Garny.

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  1. Department of Lake Research, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Brückstrasse 3a, 39114, Magdeburg, Germany

    Susanne Angelstein

  2. Biosciences, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3, 18051, Rostock, Germany

    Hendrik Schubert

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  1. Susanne Angelstein
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Correspondence to Susanne Angelstein.

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Angelstein, S., Schubert, H. Light acclimatisation of Elodea nuttallii grown under ambient DIC conditions. Plant Ecol 202, 91–101 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-008-9500-4

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