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Photosynthetic activity and proteomic analysis highlights the utilization of atmospheric CO 2 by Ulva prolifera (Chlorophyta) for rapid growth
Author(s) -
Huan Li,
Gu Wenhui,
Gao Shan,
Wang Guangce
Publication year - 2016
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/jpy.12469
Subject(s) - thallus , photosynthesis , salinity , chlorophyta , biology , botany , carbon dioxide , desiccation , algae , photosynthetic efficiency , ecophysiology , ecology
Free‐floating Ulva prolifera is one of the causative species of green tides. When green tides occur, massive mats of floating U. prolifera thalli accumulate rapidly in surface waters with daily growth rates as high as 56%. The upper thalli of the mats experience environmental changes such as the change in carbon source, high salinity, and desiccation. In this study, the photosynthetic performances of PSI and PSII in U. prolifera thalli exposed to different atmospheric carbon dioxide ( CO 2 ) levels were measured. Changes in photosynthesis within salinity treatments and dehydration under different CO 2 concentrations were also analyzed. The results showed that PSII activity was enhanced as CO 2 increased, suggesting that CO 2 assimilation was enhanced and U. prolifera thalli can utilize CO 2 in the atmosphere directly, even when under moderate stress. In addition, changes in the proteome of U. prolifera in response to salt stress were investigated. Stress‐tolerance proteins appeared to have an important role in the response to salinity stress, whereas the abundance of proteins related to metabolism showed no significant change under low salinity treatments. These findings may be one of the main reasons for the extremely high growth rate of free‐floating U. prolifera when green tides occur.