不同坡位沙棘光合日变化及其主要环境因子

沙棘是我国干旱半干旱地区重要的生态经济树种,被广泛应用于黄土高原造林活动中。为探明不同坡位沙棘光合特征及影响沙棘光合作用的主要环境因子,在沙棘生长旺盛期分坡位测定光合特性及环境因子日变化进程,并采用通径分析法分析各环境因子对沙棘净光合速率的直接和间接影响。结果表明：1、各环境因子之间存在相互作用,光合有效辐射是空气温度变化的主要驱动因子,而空气温度变化引起的空气密度变化对空气相对湿度和CO2浓度有显著影响。在上、中和下坡位环境变化可以分别解释85.6%、86.0%和 55.22%净光合速率的变异。2、下坡位沙棘净光合速率最小,日均值为9.38μmol/m2/s,上、中坡位分别为14.22μmol/m2/s,15.94μmol/m2/s。3、10:00之前中上坡位沙棘水分利用效率明显高于下坡位,但3坡位沙棘水分利用效率日均值无明显差异。4、上坡位净光合速率主要受到光合有效辐射、空气相对湿度的影响;中坡位光合有效辐射仍为主要环境因子,此外空气温度和空气湿度之间的相互作用对净光合速率也有一定影响,为主要限制因子;下坡位影响沙棘光合速率主导因素为光合有效辐射。5、沙棘在10:00之前光合有效辐射和空气湿度较高而空气温度较低的环境下,净光合速率和水分利用效率最高。作为阳生物种,沙棘需要足够的光照维持生长,而以往研究表明适度水分胁迫可以提高沙棘光合过程中对水的利用效率。本研究所选流域年降水量535mm,中上坡位水分胁迫并非十分严重。因此,种植于中上坡位的沙棘即可接受足够光照（特别是10:00以前的光照）进行光合保证生长速率,又能在光合过程中保持较高水分利用效率,符合干旱半干旱地区生态经济发展的需求。     

黄土高原常见造林树种光合蒸腾特征

为改善黄土丘陵沟壑区水土流失现状,该区长期以来开展了大量的植被建设,但是,植物的适应性及生长状况如何,还不十分清楚。为探讨造林树种对环境的适应性,从光合、蒸腾和生理生态指标出发,对黄土高原3个主要退耕还林树种：刺槐、沙棘、山杏的适应性进行了研究,并对其适宜性进行了评价。研究结果表明：沙棘不同坡位最大净光合速率Pmax、光补偿点LSP较其它两个树种占明显优势,特别是在上坡位Pmax、LSP分别达到了22.8μmol·m^-2s^-1、520μmol·m^-2s^-1,具有较高的同化代谢能力,该物种较适应该地区的强光环境,适宜种植于阳坡或坡顶;山杏LSP相对较低,而表观量子效率α明显高于沙棘、刺槐,并在下坡位达到最大值0.069,说明它主要利用弱光进行光合作用,适宜种植于阴坡或坡脚等弱光环境中,但由于山杏水分利用效率WUE较低,可能对环境带来不良影响,山杏叶片含水量为65.1%,明显高于其它两个树种,而叶绿素含量仅为0.94mg/g与刺槐沙棘的2.34mg/g和2.00mg/g相差很大,这可能是导致其WUE较低的一个原因;刺槐在上坡位的光合生理参数与山杏相差不大,但是随坡位下降其α、净光合速率Pn较山杏明显偏低各个坡位受限明显,容易形成老头树。     

沉水植物光合作用的特点与研究进展

沉水植物属于高等植物,由陆生被子植物演化而来,它们在形态、光合生态生理方面对水下生活环境发生了一系列适应性变化。沉水植物的光合作用受水体中光、温度、pH和无机碳等影响,本文对此进行了综述。水中低CO2扩散率以及细胞外较厚的扩散层阻碍了沉水植物净碳的吸收,因此,沉水植物光合作用速率受到无机碳供应的限制。为获得无机碳,沉水植物在形态结构和生理生化上表现一定的特性,包括薄的叶片层并含有叶绿体以及对HCO3-利用的能力,拟C4型和CAM型光合代谢途径的选择。这些是沉水植物碳浓缩机制的具体体现。     

碳酸酐酶在中肋骨条藻光合作用中的作用

探讨了在正常空气条件下生长的中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)的碳酸酐酶(CA)在其光合固碳中的作用.在中肋骨条藻的胞内和胞外均有CA活性,但胞外CA活性很低.CA抑制剂AZ(乙酰唑磺胺)对中肋骨条藻的光合放氧速率没有明显影响,而CA抑制剂EZ(乙氧苯唑胺)对其光合放氧速率有强烈的抑制作用.EZ的抑制作用使细胞最大光合速率、饱和光强和无机碳亲和力下降,无机碳的补偿点和光呼吸提高,使强光下光抑制作用增强.这些结果表明:中肋骨条藻的胞外CA在其光合作用中所起的作用较小,而其胞内CA通过催化胞内碳库中的HCO-3快速转化成CO2,提高胞内CO2的有效供给,从而提高细胞光合固碳能力和对逆境(高O2、强光和低CO2)的适应能力.     

NaCl 胁迫对盐芥和拟南芥光合作用的影响

本研究检测了与盐芥(Ghellungiella halophila)和拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)光合作用相关的叶绿素、净光合速率(photosynthetic rate, Pn)、气孔导度(stomatal conductance, Gs)、胞间隙CO2浓度以及叶绿素荧光参数等指标, 观察到随着NaCl浓度逐渐增加, 盐芥的叶绿素a/b值(Chl a/Chl b)、类胡萝卜素/总叶绿素值(Car/Chl)显著高于拟南芥, 且二比值变化幅度较小并保持较高水平。盐胁迫下拟南芥净光合速率下降、气孔导度下降和胞间CO2浓度减小。气孔因素是引起拟南芥光合能力下降的主要因素。叶绿素荧光参数的变化表明, 50-200 mmol.L-1 NaCl降低拟南芥叶绿体对光能的吸收能力, 而且降低叶绿体的光化学活性, 使电子传递速率和光能转化效率大幅度下降,造成光能转化为化学能的过程受阻,进一步加剧了光合放氧和碳同化能力的降低。而50-200 mmol.L-1 NaCl 胁迫没有使盐芥的光合作用受到不良影响。     

NaCI胁迫对盐芥和拟南芥光合作用的影响

本研究检测了与盐芥(Ghellungiella halophila)和拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)光合作用相关的叶绿素、净光合速率(photosynthetic rate,Pn)、气孔导度(stomatal conductance,Gs)、胞间隙CO2浓度以及叶绿素荧光参数等指标,观察到随着NaCl浓度逐渐增加,盐芥的叶绿素a／b值(Chl a／Chl b)、类胡萝卜素／总叶绿素值(Car／Chl)显著高于拟南芥,且二比值变化幅度较小并保持较高水平。盐胁迫下拟南芥净光合速率下降、气孔导度下降和胞间CO2浓度减小。气孔因素是引起拟南芥光合能力下降的主要因素。叶绿素荧光参数的变化表明,50-200 mmol·L-1NaCl降低拟南芥叶绿体对光能的吸收能力,而且降低叶绿体的光化学活性,使电子传递速率和光能转化效率大幅度下降,造成光能转化为化学能的过程受阻,进一步加剧了光合放氧和碳同化能力的降低。而50-200 mmol·L-1NaCl胁迫没有使盐芥的光合作用受到不良影响。     

不同土壤水分条件下中国沙棘雌雄株光合作用、蒸腾作用及水分利用效率特征

采用LI-6400便携式光合系统对野外不同生境(沟底、坡面)和田间不同土壤水分条件下中国沙棘雌雄株的净光合速率和蒸腾速率及水分利用效率特征进行了观测,结果表明,中国沙棘雌雄株在水分条件较好的生境中均表现较强的生活力,净光合速率和蒸腾速率主要受光照强度和大气温度的影响,雄株表现出更高的光合、蒸腾、水分利用效率;在水分条件较差的生境中,雌雄株均通过降低蒸腾和提高水分利用效率来适应逆境,净光合速率和蒸腾速率的影响因子增多,雄株的光合速率大幅度下降,雌株仍保持较高的光合速率,雌株的水分利用效率高于雄株.可见,在反映植物瞬时生理变化的性状方面,雌株对土壤水分减少表现出了更强的适应性,雄株对土壤水分变化表现出了更大的敏感性.     

赤潮藻中肋骨条藻的光合作用对海水pH和N变化的响应

为探讨赤潮发生时中肋骨条藻 (Skeletonemacoatatum)的光合作用生理变化 ,研究了不同无机氮 (N)水平上 ,海水pH值升高对其胞外碳酸酐酶 (CA)和光合生理特性的影响。海水pH从 8.2升至 8.7时 ,中肋骨条藻胞外CA被诱导 ,细胞对无机碳的亲和力 (1/Km)提高 ;在pH8 7时 ,高N条件下的胞外CA活性是低N条件下的 3倍 ,1/Km 值也提高了 80 %。单位叶绿素a的最大净光合能力 (Pam)在不同pH和N水平上没有显著差异 ;但单位细胞的最大净光合能力 (Pcm)提高了 10 0 %。这些结果表明 ,赤潮发生时 ,中肋骨条藻通过启动无机碳浓缩机制 (CCM) ,提高细胞对无机碳利用效率 ,使其在低CO2 (高pH)环境下维持光合机构正常运行 ;充足的N源有利于提高CCM的效率 ,从而提高CO2 环境下的光合固碳能力。     

杂交马褂木叶片发育过程中资源利用效率的变化格局

对一年生杂交马褂木( Liriodendron chinense Sarg.× L. tulipifera L.)叶片展开过程中光能转换效率、水分利用效率和光合碳同化的变化规律及栽植密度对中下部叶片资源利用效率的影响进行了研究,结果表明(1) 叶片展开过程中,净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(E)、气孔限制值(Ls)、总光合速率(Pm)、净光合比率(Pn/Pm)、PSⅡ的原初光能转化效率(Fv/Fm)和PSⅡ的光量子产率(φPSⅡ) 、羧化效率(CE) 和水分利用效率(WUE)显著上升,而胞间CO2浓度(Ci)和呼吸速率(R)显著下降;(2) 叶片展开过程中,光合碳同化"暗系统"的完善远远慢于能量转换的"光系统";(3) 叶片展开过程中,影响净光合速率增长的主导因素不是气孔导度,而是"暗系统"完善程度, "光系统"的影响远小于"暗系统"的影响; (4) 郁闭的高密度群体中,中下部叶片的Pn、Gs、E、Ls、Pm、Fv/Fm、φPSⅡ、CE和WUE显著低于上部完全展开叶,Ci显著高于上部完全展开叶,Pn/Pm和上部完全展开叶没有显著差异,而未郁闭的低密度群体中,中下部叶片的上述所有参数与上部完全展开叶无显著差异;(5) 导致高密度群体叶片Pn大幅度下降的主导因素是CE的大幅下降,而不是"光系统"和气孔导度;(6) 密度过大加速了中下部叶片光合功能的下降.     

内蒙古半干旱草原区沙地植物群落光合特征的动态研究

沙蒿(Artemisia intramongolica)群落是半干旱草原地区沙地的重要植被类型,分别在植物的生长前期、中期、盛期和后期采用便携式光合测定仪和大型同化分析仪测定了沙蒿叶片和沙蒿群落的光合动态。单叶和群落的光合速率日进程类型随气候的不同而异,瞬时光合速率主要决定于光合有效辐射强度(PAR)。土壤干旱大大降低了单叶和群落的光合能力,晴天土壤湿润时气温和空气湿度控制着叶片的光合速率,午间大气湿度降低是光合午休的主要外因。叶片的蒸腾速率与气温呈显著线性相关,植物的光能和水分利用效率也主要取决于PAR和气温,随着PAR和气温的升高利用效率下降。沙蒿叶片光能利用效率在后期也能保持较高水平。沙蒿对土壤干旱和高温具有一定的适应性,在土壤湿润时能迅速提高光合速率,形成较大的生物量。但是沙蒿的蒸腾速率高,水分利用效率低。研究认为,沙蒿通过对土壤干旱和高温的忍耐机制而保持长时间较高的光能利用效率,并在土壤湿润时迅速提高光合能力和积累干物质来适应半干旱的沙地环境,而且依靠高蒸腾速率和强的水分吸收能力来竞争性抑制其他植物的生长。     

The interactive effects of light and inorganic carbon on aquatic plant growth

Submerged aquatic macrophytes grow across a wide, often coupled, range of light and inorganic carbon availabilities, and each single factor influences photosynthesis and acclimation. Here we examine the interactive effects of light and inorganic carbon on the growth of Elodea canadensis and Callitriche cophocarpa. The plants were grown in the laboratory at a range of light intensities (0–108 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹) and four inorganic carbon regimes in a crossed factorial design. Plant growth rates, measured over 3–4 weeks of incubation, increased in response to increasing light intensity and inorganic carbon availability, and significant interactive effects were observed. The light-use efficiency for growth at low light increased 2-fold for Callitriche and 6-fold for Elodea between the lowest and highest inorganic carbon concentrations applied. Also, the growth rate at the highest light intensity increased with inorganic carbon availability, but the relative increase was smaller than at low light. Both species acclimated to the light and carbon regime such that the chlorophyll content declined at low and high light intensities and the initial slopes of the photosynthetic CO₂ and HCO₃⁻ response curves declined at high levels of CO₂. Callitriche responded less markedly than Elodea to changing inorganic carbon availability during growth, and the initial slope of the photosynthetic HCO₃⁻ response curve, in particular, was greatly reduced (>90%) in Elodea by high CO₂. It is suggested that the coupled responses of aquatic macrophytes to light and inorganic carbon influence their ability to develop dense stands at high light in shallow water and to extend to greater depths in waters rich in inorganic carbon.     

Effect of bicarbonate treatment on photosynthetic assimilation of inorganic carbon in two plant species of Moraceae

Excessive levels of bicarbonate adversely affect the growth and metabolism of plants. Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent. and Morus alba L., belonging to family Moraceae, possess the favorable characteristics of rapid growth and adaptability to adverse environments. We examined the response of these two plant species to bicarbonate stress in terms of photosynthetic assimilation of inorganic carbon. They were exposed to 10 mM sodium bicarbonate in the culture solution for 20 days. The photosynthetic response was determined by measuring the net photosynthetic rate of the leaf, water-use efficiency, and chlorophyll fluorescence on days 10 and 20. The bicarbonate-use capacity of the plants was studied by measuring the carbonic anhydrase activity and the compositions of the stable carbon and hydrogen isotopes. The photosynthetic response to high concentration of bicarbonate varied with plant species and treatment durations. High concentrations of bicarbonate decreased the photosynthetic assimilation of inorganic carbon in the two plant species to half that in the control plants on day 10. Bicarbonate treatment did not cause any damage to the reaction centers of photosystem II in Morus alba; it, however, caused a decline in the quantum efficiency of photosystem II in B. papyrifera on day 20. Moreover, B. papyrifera had a greater bicarbonate-use capacity than M. alba because carbonic anhydrase converted bicarbonate to CO₂ and H₂O to a greater extent in B. papyrifera. This study showed that the effect of bicarbonate on photosynthetic carbon metabolism in plants was dual. Therefore, the concentration of bicarbonate in the soil should first be considered during afforestation and ecological restoration in karst areas.     

UPTAKE,EFFLUX, AND PHOTOSYNTHETIC UTILIZATION OF INORGANIC CARBON BY THE MARINE EUSTIGMATOPHYTE NANNOCHLOROPSIS SP.1

Uptake, efflux and utilization of inorganic carbon were investigated in the marine eustigmatophyte Nannochloropsis sp. grown under an air level of CO₂. Maximal photosynthetic rate was hardly affected by raising the pH porn 5.0 to 9.0. The apparent photosynthetic affinity for dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) was 35 μM DIC between pH 6.5 to 9.0, but increased approximately threefold at pH 5.0 suggesting that HCO₃- was the main DIC species used from the medium. No external carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity could be detected by the pH drift method. However, application of ethoxyzolamide (an inhibitor of CA) resulted an a significant inhibition of photosynthetic O₂ evolution and carbon utilization, suggesting involvement of internal CA or CA-like activity in DIC utilization. Under high light conditions, the rate of HCO₃^? uptake and its internal conversion to CO₂ apparently exceeded the rate of carbon fixation, resulting in a large leak of CO₂ from the cells to the external medium. When the cells were exposed to low DIC concentrations, the ratio of internal to external DIC concentration was about eight. On the other hand, in the presence of 2 mM DIC, conditions prevailing in the marine environment, the internal concentration of DIC was only 50% higher than the external one.     

Effect of inorganic carbon supply on the photosynthetic physiology of Gracilaria tenuistipitata

Gracilaria tenuistipitata Zhang et Xia was cultured for 15 d at low, normal and high inorganic carbon concentrations under constant light, temperature and nutrient conditons. Carbonic anhydrase (CA; EC 4.2.1.1.) activity, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/ oxygenase (Rubisco; EC 4.1.1.39) content, pigment content and C/N ratio were measured, and also the photosynthesis and growth rates. Both Rubisco content and CA activity increased under conditions of low inorganic carbon (C_i) but decreased at high C_i with respect to the control. The amount of pigments declined considerably at high C_i and was slightly higher at low C_i. The maximum rate of photosynthesis and the photosynthetic efficiency increased in low C_i and the opposite was found at high C_i concentration. The effects of C_i concentration on maximum rate of photosynthesis and photosynthetic efficiency are discussed in relation to the variation in pigment and Rubisco contents and CA activity. The data indicate that C_i may be an important factor controlling the photosynthetic physiology of G. tenuistipitata with regard, not only to the enzymes of C_i metabolism, but also to the pigment content.Abbreviations APS_max maximum apparent photosynthetic rate - CA carbonic anhydrase - Chl chlorophyll - C_i inorganic carbon - Rubisco ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase This work has been supported by grants No. PB91-0962 and No. MAR90-0365 from Spanish Direction for Science and Technology (DIGICYT). M.J. G-S holds a fellowship from the DIGICYT.     

Photosynthetic inorganic carbon uptake and accumulation in two marine diatoms

Some physiological characteristics of photosynthetic inorganic carbon uptake have been examined in the marine diatoms Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Cyclotella sp. Both species demonstrated a high affinity for inorganic carbon in photosynthesis at pH7.5, having K_1/2(CO₂) in the range 1.0 to 4.0mmol m^?3 and O_2? and temperature-insensitive CO₂ compensation concentrations in the range 10.8 to 17.6 cm³ m^?3. Intracellular accumulation of inorganic carbon was found to occur in the light; at an external pH of 7.5 the concentration in P. tricornutum was twice, and that in Cyclotella 3.5 times, the concentration in the suspending medium. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) was detected in intact Cyclotella cells but not in P. tricornutum, although internal CA was detected in both species. The rates of photosynthesis at pH 8.0 of P. tricornutum cells and Cyclotella cells treated with 0.1 mol m^?3 acetazolamide, a CA inhibitor, were 1.5- to 5-fold the rate of CO₂ supply, indicating that both species have the capacity to take up HCO₃^? as a source of substrate for photosynthesis. No Na⁺ dependence for HCO₃^? could be detected in either species. These results indicate that these two marine diatoms have the capacity to accumulate inorganic carbon in the light as a consequence, in part, of the active uptake of bicarbonate.     

PHOTOSYNTHETIC UTILIZATION OF INORGANIC CARBON IN THE ECONOMIC BROWN ALGA,HIZIKIA FUSIFORME (SARGASSACEAE) FROM THE SOUTH CHINA SEA1

The mechanism of inorganic carbon (C_i) acquisition by the economic brown macroalga, Hizikia fusiforme (Harv.) Okamura (Sargassaceae), was investigated to characterize its photosynthetic physiology. Both intracellular and extracellular carbonic anhydrase (CA) were detected, with the external CA activity accounting for about 5% of the total. Hizikia fusiforme showed higher rates of photosynthetic oxygen evolution at alkaline pH than those theoretically derived from the rates of uncatalyzed CO₂ production from bicarbonate and exhibited a high pH compensation point (pH 9.66). The external CA inhibitor, acetazolamide, significantly depressed the photosynthetic oxygen evolution, whereas the anion‐exchanger inhibitor 4,4′‐diisothiocyano‐stilbene‐2,2′‐disulfonate had no inhibitory effect on it, implying the alga was capable of using HCO₃^? as a source of C_i for its photosynthesis via the mediation of the external CA. CO₂ concentrations in the culture media affected its photosynthetic properties. A high level of CO₂ (10,000 ppmv) resulted in a decrease in the external CA activity; however, a low CO₂ level (20 ppmv) led to no changes in the external CA activity but raised the intracellular CA activity. Parallel to the reduction in the external CA activity at the high CO₂ was a reduction in the photosynthetic CO₂ affinity. Decreased activity of the external CA in the high CO₂ grown samples led to reduced sensitiveness of photosynthesis to the addition of acetazolamide at alkaline pH. It was clearly indicated that H. fusiforme, which showed CO₂‐limited photosynthesis with the half‐saturating concentration of C_i exceeding that of seawater, did not operate active HCO₃^? uptake but used it via the extracellular CA for its photosynthetic carbon fixation.     

The effect of CO2 enrichment on leaf photosynthetic rates and instantaneous water use efficiency of Andropogon gerardii in the tallgrass prairie

Open-top chambers were used to study the effects of CO₂ enrichment on leaf-level photosynthetic rates of the C₄ grass Andropogon gerardii in the native tallgrass prairie ecosystem near Manhattan, Kansas. Measurements were made during a year with abundant rainfall (1993) and a year with below-normal rainfall (1994). Treatments included: No chamber, ambient CO₂ (A); chamber with ambient CO₂ (CA); and chamber with twice-ambient CO₂ (CE). Measurements of photosynthesis were made at 2-hour intervals, or at midday, on cloudless days throughout the growing season using an open-flow gas-exchange system. No significant differences in midday rates of photosynthesis or in daily carbon accumulation as a result of CO₂ enrichment were found in the year with abundant precipitation. In the dry year, midday rates of photosynthesis were significantly higher in the CE treatment than in the CA or A treatments throughout the season. Estimates of daily carbon accumulation also indicated that CO₂ enrichment allowed plants to maximize carbon acquisition on a diurnal basis. The increased carbon accumulation was accounted for by greater rates of photosynthesis in the CE plots during midday. During the wet year, CO₂ enrichment decreased stomatal conductance, which allowed plants to decrease transpiration while still photosynthesizing at rates similar to plants in ambient conditions. During the dry year, CO₂ enrichment allowed plants to maintain photosynthetic rates even though stomatal conductance and transpiration had been reduced in all treatments due to stress. Estimates of instantaneous water-use efficiency were reduced under CO₂ enrichment for both years. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

CO2‐concentrating mechanisms in three southern hemisphere strains of Emiliania huxleyi

Rising global CO₂ is changing the carbonate chemistry of seawater, which is expected to influence the way phytoplankton acquire inorganic carbon. All phytoplankton rely on ribulose‐bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase (RUBISCO) for assimilation of inorganic carbon in photosynthesis, but this enzyme is inefficient at present day CO₂ levels. Many algae have developed a range of energy demanding mechanisms, referred to as carbon concentrating mechanisms (CCMs), which increase the efficiency of carbon acquisition. We investigated CCM activity in three southern hemisphere strains of the coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi W. W. Hay & H. P. Mohler. Both calcifying and non‐calcifying strains showed strong CCM activity, with HCO₃^? as a preferred source of photosynthetic carbon in the non‐calcifying strain, but a higher preference for CO₂ in the calcifying strains. All three strains were characterized by the presence of pyrenoids, external carbonic anhydrase (CA) and high affinity for CO₂ in photosynthesis, indicative of active CCMs. We postulate that under higher CO₂ levels cocco‐lithophorids will be able to down‐regulate their CCMs, and re‐direct some of the metabolic energy to processes such as calcification. Due to the expected rise in CO₂ levels, photosynthesis in calcifying strains is expected to benefit most, due to their use of CO₂ for carbon uptake. The non‐calcifying strain, on the other hand, will experience only a 10% increase in HCO₃^?, thus making it less responsive to changes in carbonate chemistry of water.     

The role of external carbonic anhydrase in the photosynthetic use of inorganic carbon in the deep-water alga Phyllariopsis purpurascens (Laminariales, Phaeophyta)

Mechanisms of inorganic carbon assimilation were investigated in the deep-water alga Phyllariopsis purpurascens (C. Agardh) Henry et South (Laminariales, Phaeophyta). The gross photosynthetic rate as a function of external pH, at a constant concentration of 2 mM dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), decreased sharply from pH 7.0 to 9.0, and was not substantially different from 0 above pH 9.0. These data indicate that P. purpurascens is inefficient in the use of external HCO₃ ⁻ as a carbon source in photosynthesis. Moreover, the photosynthetic rate as a function of external DIC and the highest pH (9.01 ± 0.07) that this species can achieve in a closed system were consistent with a low capacity to use HCO₃ ⁻, in comparison to many other species of seaweeds. The role of external carbonic anhydrase (CA; EC 4.2.1.1) on carbon uptake was investigated by measuring both the HCO₃ ⁻-dependent O₂ evolution and the CO₂ uptake, at pH 5.5 and 8.0, and the rate of pH change in the external medium, in the presence of selected inhibitors of extra- and intracellular CA. Photosynthetic DIC-dependent O₂ evolution was higher at pH 5.5 (where CO₂ is the predominant form of DIC) than at pH 8.0 (where the predominant chemical species is HCO₃ ⁻). Both intra- and extracellular CA activity was detected. Dextran-bound sulfonamide (DBS; a specific inhibitor of extracellular CA) reduced the photosynthetic O₂ evolution and CO₂ uptake at pH 8.0, but there was no effect at pH 5.5. The pH-change rate of the medium, under saturating irradiance, was reduced by DBS. Phyllariopsis purpurascens has a low efficiency in the use of HCO₃ ⁻ as carbon source in photosynthesis; nevertheless, the ion can be used after dehydration, in the external medium, catalyzed by extracellular CA. This mechanism could explain why the photosynthetic rate in situ was higher than that supported solely by the diffusion of CO₂ from seawater. Received: 6 March 1998 / Accepted: 22 June 1998     

Circadian rhythm and fast responses to blue light of photosynthesis in Ectocarpus (Phaeophyta,Ectocarpales)

Photosynthesis of Ectocarpus siliculosus (Dillwyn) Lyngb. under continuous saturating red irradiation follows a circadian rhythm. Blue-light pulses rapidly stimulate photosynthesis with high effectiveness in the troughs of this rhythm but the effectiveness of such pulses is much lower at its peaks. In an attempt to understand how blue light and the rhythm affected photosynthesis, the effects of inorganic carbon on photosynthetic light saturation curves were studied under different irradiation conditions. The circadian rhythm of photosynthesis was apparent only at irradiances which were not limiting for photosynthesis. The same was found for blue-light-stimulated photosynthesis, although stimulation was observed also under very low red-light irradiances after a period of adaptation, provided that the inorganic-carbon concentration was not in excess. Double-reciprocal plots of light-saturated photosynthetic rates versus the concentration of total inorganic carbon (up to 10 mM total inorganic carbon) were linear and had a common constant for half-saturation (3.6 mM at pH 8) at both the troughs and the peaks of the rhythm and before and after blue-light pulses. Only at very low carbon concentrations was a clear deviation found from these lines for photosynthesis at the rhythm maxima (red and blue light), which indicated that the strong carbon limitation specifically affected photosynthesis at the peak phases of the rhythm. Very high inorganic carbon concentrations (20 mM) in the medium diminished the responses to blue light, although they did not fully abolish them. The kinetics of the stimulation indicate that the rate of photosynthesis is affected by two blue-light-dependent components with different time courses of induction and decay. The faster component seemed to be at least partially suppressed at red-light irradiances which were not saturating for photosynthesis. Lowering the pH of the medium had the same effects as an increase of the carbon concentration to levels of approx. 10 mM. This indicates that Ectocarpus takes up free CO₂ only and not bicarbonate, although additional physiological mechanisms may enhance the availability of CO₂.Abbreviation TIC total inorganic carbon