Physiological responses of Porphyra haitanesis to different copper and zinc concentrations

Authors

  • Ying Xia Li School of Life Science and Technology; Nanyang Normal University
  • Suo Zhou School of Life Science and Technology; Nanyang Normal University
  • Feng Juan Zhao Department of Biological Sciences; BingZhou University
  • Yan Liu Wuhan University of Science and Technology Zhongnan Brach; School of Life science
  • Pan Pan Fan School of Life Science and Technology; Nanyang Normal University
  • Guang Ce Wang Chinese Academy of Science; Institute of Oceanology; Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1679-87592010000400001

Keywords:

Porphyra haitanesis, Copper, Zinc, Photosystem II

Abstract

In the present study, several physiological responses of the red marine alga Porphyra haitanesis to elevated concentrations of copper (up to 50 μM) and zinc (up to 100 μM) were investigated. Our results showed that the effects of Cu2+ and Zn2+ on growth, photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids), phycobiliprotein and metabolism (the fluorescence emission spectra and the activities of photosystemII) did not follow the same pattern. The relative growth rate was inhibited by different concentrations of Cu2+, and was slightly increased at lower concentrations (up to 10 μM) and inhibited at higher Zn2+concentrations. On the other hand, the phycoerythrin contents were slightly increased at relatively low concentrations (up to 1 μM Cu2+ or 20 μM Zn2+) and inhibited by high Cu2+ and Zn2+ concentrations. Moreover, photosynthesis and respiration showed an increase in the amount of oxygen exchange in response to relatively low Cu2+ (up to 1 μM) and Zn2+ concentrations (up to 10 μM), and a reduction to relatively high Cu2+ and Zn2+ concentrations. Oxygen evolution was more sensitive than oxygen uptake to Cu2+ and Zn2+. In addition, the photoreductive activities and fluorescence emission of photosystem II (PS II) were enhanced by lower concentrations of Cu2+ (up to 0.1 μM) and Zn2+ (up to 10 μM) and inhibited by higher concentrations. Furthermore, the intensity of chlorophyll a fluorescence and the active PSII reaction centers followed a similar pattern in response to elevated concentrations of Cu2+ and Zn2+. These results suggest that lower concentrations of Cu2+ and Zn2+ affected the metabolism of P. haitanesis, which was inhibited by higher concentrations of these metals.

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Published

2010-12-01

Issue

Section

naodefinida

How to Cite

Physiological responses of Porphyra haitanesis to different copper and zinc concentrations. (2010). Brazilian Journal of Oceanography, 58(4), 261-267. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1679-87592010000400001