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BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND PHOTOSYNTHETIC CARBON METABOLISM OF NUTRIENT LIMITED CULTURES OF MERISMOPEDIA TENUISSIMA (CYANOPHYCEAE) 1
Author(s) -
Konopka Allan,
Schnur Marilyn
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1111/j.1529-8817.1981.tb00829.x
Subject(s) - biology , photosynthesis , nutrient , carbohydrate , metabolism , phycocyanin , population , phosphorus , botany , carbon to nitrogen ratio , chlorophyll , biochemistry , cyanobacteria , nitrogen , bacteria , ecology , chemistry , sociology , genetics , demography , organic chemistry
Continuous cultures of Merismopedia tenuissima Lemmerman, limited by phosphorus, nitrogen, sulfur, or carbon, were compared to non limited batch cultures by two methods. The cellular content of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and phycocyanin) was found to decrease in all nutrient limited cultures, except for the carbon limited culture. The ratio of carbohydrate to protein was 4‐ to 7‐fold higher in P, N or S limited cultures than in non‐limited or C limited cultures. The macromolecular products of photosynthesis were determined in samples to which NaH 14 CO 3 was added. Relative incorporation into protein decreased in P or N limited cultures, increased accumulation of low molecular weight compounds was found in S and P limited cultures, and little change was noted in C limited cultures as compared to non‐limited cultures. Although relative incorporation into protein was significantly greater at 20μEin·m −2 ·s −1 light intensity than at 180 μEin·m −2 .s −1 in non‐limited cultures, this effect was abolished in all nutrient limited cultures. These results suggest that measurement of the cellular carbohydrate to protein ratio and the products of photosynthesis would be useful in the analysis of algal population dynamics in nature.