Abstract
Tests have been carried out, both on phytoplankton cultures and in the field, on the relation between the ratio of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyl urea (DCMU)-enhanced to normal fluorescence (F D /F N ) and the specific photosynthetic rate (P/B). In all cases observed, significant linear correlations were found between these two values. Differences in this relation were observed according to species and physiological conditions. Nutrient stress that occurs in batch cultures decreases both F D /F N and P/B, while lowered light intensity has a different effect on both, increasing F D /F N and decreasing P/B. This is interpreted as indicating that F D /F N is an index of photosynthetic efficiency at different light levels and an indicator of the specific photosynthetic rate (P/B) when physiological conditions vary at a given light intensity. The practical use of DCMU-enhanced fluorometry to estimate instantaneous P/B values in the field is discussed, stressing the frequent calibrations needed, as in all in situ fluorometry studies.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Bishop, N.I.: The influence of the herbicide, DCMU, on the oxygen-evolving system of photosynthesis. Biochim. biophys. Acta 27, 205–206 (1958)
Blasco, D. and R. Dexter: Spectrophotometric and fluorescence determinations. In: Phytoplankton growth dynamics, chemostat methodology and chemical analyses-technical series 1. Spec. Rep. Dep. Oceanogr. Univ. Wash. 52, 102–108 (1972)
Cramer, W.A.: Cytochromes. In: Photosynthesis I-Photosynthetic electron transport and photophosphorylation. Encycl. Pl. Physiol. (New Ser.) 5, 231–235 (1977)
Doty, M.S. and M. Oguri: The carbon-fourteen technique for determining primary plankton productivity. Pubbl. Staz. zool. Napoli 31 (Suppl.), 70–94 (1959)
Duysens, L.N.M. and H.E. Sweers: Mechanism of two photochemical reactions in algae as studied by means of fluorescence. In: Studies on microalgae and photosynthetic bacteria, pp 353–372. Ed. by N. Shokubutsu and S. Gakkai. Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press 1963
Geissbühler, H., H. Martin and G. Voss: The substituted ureas. In: Herbicides: chemistry, degradation and mode of action. Vol. 1. pp 209–291. Ed. by P.C. Kearney and D.D. Kaufman. New York: Marcel Dekker Inc. 1975
Govindjee and G. Papageorgiou: Chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthesis: fluorescence transients. In: Photophysiology, Vol. VI. pp 1–46. Ed. by A.C. Giese. New York: Academic Press 1971
Halldal, P. and K. Halldal: Phytoplankton, chlorophyll and submarine light conditions in Kings Bay, Spitsbergen, July 1971. Norw. J. Bot. 20, 99–108 (1973)
Harris, G.P.: Photosynthesis, productivity and growth: The physiological ecology of phytoplankton. Arch. Hydrobiol. (Beih. Ergebn. Limnol.) 10, 1–171 (1978)
Homann, P.H.: Cation effects on the fluorescence of isolated chloroplasts. Pl. Physiol., Wash. 44, 932–936 (1969)
Izawa, S. and N.E. Good: Inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport and photophosphorylation. Meth. Enzym. 24 (B), 355–377 (1972)
Kautsky, H. und A. Hirsch: Neue Versuche zur Kohlensäureassimilation. Naturwissenschaften 19, p. 964 (1931)
Kiefer, D.A.: Chlorophyll a fluorescence in marine centric diatoms: responses of chloroplasts to light and nutrient stress. Mar. Biol. 23, 39–46 (1973)
— and R.E. Hodson: Effects of nitrogen stress upon the photosynthetic rate and fluorescence of Thalassiosira pseudonana. Prog. Rep. U.S. atom. Energy Commn Contract AT (11-1) Gen. 10, P.A. 20 Part I, pp 33–39 (1974). (Unpublished manuscript: Institute of Marine Resources, A-018, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, Calif. 92093, USA)
Kobayashi, Y. and D.V. Maudsley: Practical aspects of liquid scintillation counting. Meth. Biochem. Analysis 17, 55–133 (1969)
Krey, A. and Govindjee: Fluorescence studies on a red alga, Porphyridium cruentum. Biochem. biophys. Acta 120, 1–18 (1966)
Loftus, M.E. and H.H. Seliger: Some limitations of the in vivo fluorescence technique. Chesapeake Sci. 16, 79–92 (1975)
Papageorgiou, G.: Chlorophyll fluorescence: an intrinsic probe of photosynthesis. In: Bioenergetics of photosynthesis, pp 319–371. Ed. by Govindjee. New York: Academic Press 1975
Samuelsson, G. and G. Öquist: A method for studying photosynthetic capacities of unicellular algae based on in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence. Physiologia Pl. 40, 315–319 (1977)
Slovacek, R.E. and P.J. Hannan: In vivo fluorescence determinations of phytoplankton chlorophyll a. Limnol. Oceanogr. 22, 919–925 (1977)
Sokal, R.R. and F.J. Rohlf: Biometry. The principles and practice of statistics in biological research, 776 pp. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman & Co. 1969
Steeman Nielsen, E.: Marine photosynthesis with special emphasis on the ecological aspects, 141 pp. New York: Elsevier Scientific Publishing Co. 1975
Stein, J.R. (Ed.): Handbook of phycological methods. Culture methods and growth measurements, 448 pp. Cambridge: University Press 1973
Strickland, J.D.H.: Continuous measurement of in vivo chlorophyll; a precautionary note. Deep-Sea Res. 15, 225–227 (1968)
— and T.R. Parsons: A practical handbook of seawater analysis, 2nd ed. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 167, 1–310 (1972)
Tunzi, M.G., M.Y. Chu and R.C. Bain Jr.: In vivo fluorescence, extracted fluorescence and chlorophyll concentration in algal mass measurements. Wat. Res. 8, 623–636 (1974)
Wessels, J.S.C. and R. Van der Veen: The action of some derivatives of phenylurethan and of 3-phenyl-1, 1-dimethylurea on the Hill reaction. Biochim. biophys. Acta 19, 548–549 (1956)
Yentsch, C.S. and D.W. Menzel: A method for the determination of phytoplankton chlorophyll and phaeophytin by fluorescence. Deep-Sea Res. 10, 221–231 (1963)
Zweig, G., I. Tamás and E. Greenberg: The effect of photosynthesis inhibitors on oxygen evolution and fluorescence of illuminated Chlorella. Biochim. biophys. Acta 66, 196–205 (1963)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by T. Platt, Dartmouth
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Roy, S., Legendre, L. DCMU-enhanced fluorescence as an index of photosynthetic activity in phytoplankton. Mar. Biol. 55, 93–101 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00397304
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00397304