Effect of Light Intensity on Adaptation of Dunaliella to Very High Salt Concentrations

Light intensity was found to have a strong effect on the adaptationto high salt concentrations of a green microalga, Dunaliellaparva, normally grown at low and medium salt concentrations.At high light intensities (200 µmol m^–2 s^–1)the cell glycerol content increased in parallel with an increasein external salt concentration; protein synthesis and cell divisioncontinued with no period of arrest. At low light intensitiesno glycerol synthesis occurred as the external salt concentrationwas raised; protein synthesis and cell division were equallyarrested. The importance of high light intensity during theinitial phase of increase of salt concentration was demonstratedand was found to be a requirement for protein synthesis andcell division. In experiments designed to discover the effectof light intensity on cells growing in media in which the saltconcentration was kept constant, it was confirmed that the lightintensity needed for growth increases as the salt concentrationof the medium is increased. Key words: Dunaliella, salt concentration, light intensity, growth rates     

Determination of Volume of Dunaliella Cells by Lithium Dilution Measurements and Derivation of Internal Solute Concentrations

A method has been developed to measure the cell volume of theunicellular green alga Dunaliella parva 19/9 using Li⁺ measurementsonly. Concentrations of internal solutes can also be calculatedif they are assayed in the same samples as Li⁺. We found thatD. parva cells grown in 0.4 kmol m^–3 NaCl have an averageaqueous cell volume of 65.1 ?2.9 µm³, a K⁺ concentrationof 126?6 mol m^–3, a Na⁺ concentration of 11?11 mol m^–3and a glycerol concentration of 615?27 mol m–3 (n= 12).Algae grown in 1.5 kmol m^–3 NaCl have an average aqueouscell volume of 131 ?7.5 µm³, a K⁺ concentration of 109?4mol m^–3, a Na⁺ concentration of 10?39 mol m^–3 anda glycerol concentration of 1 425?59 mol m^–3 (n = 12).These results indicate that D. parva cells adapted to high salinitieshave larger cell volumes than those adapted to lower salinities.However, there is no evidence for a significant difference ininternal Na⁺ concentration, despite the almost 4-fold differencein the concentration of external NaCl. The intracellular glycerolconcentration alone accounts for 65% and 54%, respectively,of the osmotic balance in low and high salt grown cells. Key words: Dunaliella, cell volume, intracellular solutes     

Ion and Glycerol Concentrations in 12 Isolates of Dunaliella

Ginzburg, M., and Ginzburg, B. Z., 1985. Ion and glycerol concentrationsin 12 isolates of Dunaliella.—J. exp. Bot. 36: 1064–1074. Twelve isolates of Dunaliella with average cell volumes rangingfrom 50 to 1400x10^–18 m³ were grown in batch culture at0.5 M or 2.0 M NaCl. Glycerol and ions (Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, CI^–,phosphate) were measured in log-phase cultures. The contentsof Mg²⁺, K⁺ and phosphate per cell were found to be a functionof cell-volume. Cell glycerol, Na⁺ and Cl^– were functionsof cell-volume and of the NaCl concentration in the medium.Solute concentrations were calculated from the measured cell-volumesand from the ³H₂O content of pellets corrected for intercellularspace using Blue Dextran. Cell glycerol was found to accountfor about one-half of the expected osmolarity, the remainderbeing largely accounted for by Na⁺ and CI^–. Key words: —Dunaliella, isolates, glycerol, ion concentrations     

Measurements of Ion Concentrations and Fluxes in Dunaliella parva

Measurements of K⁺, Na⁺, and Cl^– were made on a halotolerantstrain of Dunaliella growing at 500 mM NaCl, 25 ?C, and a relativelylow light intensity (6000 Lx). Much effort was spent in searchingfor a means of measuring the extracellular volume of fluid trappedbetween the cells of centrifuged pellets. All of the sugarstried as markers were rejected because they were found to bedigested in the cell suspension. The most suitable marker wasfound to be [¹⁴C]polyethylene glycol² (mol. wt. 4000); althoughthis substance was apparently adsorbed to the cell exterior,it was found possible to correct for adsorption and then obtaina reasonable figure for the trapped fluid. The final concentrationsof cell K⁺ and Na⁺ were 128 ? 53 mM and 131 ? 117 mM respectively.Cl^– balanced the sum of K⁺ Na⁺. Influxes of ²²Na⁺, ⁴²K⁺,and ³⁶C1^– were measured in cells in which the ions werein the steady state. Averages of 610 and 6.6 nmol m^–2s^–1 were obtained for Na⁺ and K⁺ respectively. Cl^–influx was divided into 2 phases with values of 1540 and 178mmol m^–2 s^–1. The faster influx was considered tobe across the outer cell membrane. The membrane responsiblefor the slower influx has not been identified. By comparingvalues of the potential difference calculated from the Nernstand Goldman equations, it was concluded that Na⁺ and K⁺ areprobably controlled by active mechanisms, whereas cell Cl^–is likely to be at thermodynamic equilibrium with the medium.     

Influence of Constant Light and Darkness,Light Intensity,and Light Spectrum on Plasma Melatonin Rhythms in Senegal Sole

Light is the most important synchronizer of melatonin rhythms in fish. This paper studies the influence of the characteristics of light on plasma melatonin rhythms in sole. The results revealed that under long‐term exposure to constant light conditions (LL or DD), the total 24 h melatonin production was significantly higher than under LD, but LL and DD conditions influenced the rhythms differently. Under LL, melatonin remained at around 224 pg/ml throughout the 24 h, while under DD a significant elevation (363.6 pg/ml) was observed around the subjective evening. Exposure to 1 h light pulses at MD (mid‐dark) inhibited melatonin production depending on light intensity (3.3, 5.3, 10.3, and 51.9 µW/cm²). The light threshold required to reduce nocturnal plasma melatonin to ML (mid‐light) values was 5.3 µW/cm². Melatonin inhibition by light also depended on the wavelength of the light pulses: while a deep red light (λ>600 nm) failed to reduce plasma melatonin significantly, far violet light (λ_max=368 nm) decreased indoleamine's concentration to ML values. These results suggest that dim light at night (e.g., moonlight) may be perceived and hence affect melatonin rhythms, encouraging synchronization to the lunar cycle. On the other hand, deep red light does not seem to inhibit nocturnal melatonin production, and so it may be used safely during sampling at night.     

Influence of Light Intensity on Plasma Melatonin and Locomotor Activity Rhythms in Tench

Melatonin production by the pineal organ is influenced by light intensity, as has been described in most vertebrate species, in which melatonin is considered a synchronizer of circadian rhythms. In tench, strict nocturnal activity rhythms have been described, although the role of melatonin has not been clarified. In this study we investigated daily activity and melatonin rhythms under 12∶12 light‐dark (LD) conditions with two different light intensities (58.6 and 1,091 µW/cm²), and the effect of 1 h broad spectrum white light pulses of different intensities (3.3, 5.3, 10.5, 1,091.4 µW/cm²) applied at middarkness (MD) on nocturnal circulating melatonin. The results showed that plasma melatonin in tench under LD 12∶12 and high light conditions displayed rhythmic variation, where values at MD (255.8±65.9 pg/ml) were higher than at midlight (ML) (70.7±31.9 pg/ml). Such a difference between MD and ML values was reduced in animals exposed to LD 12∶12 and low light intensity. The application of 1 h light pulses at MD lowered plasma melatonin to 111.6±3.2 pg/ml (in the 3.3–10.5 µW/cm² range) and to 61.8±18.3 pg/ml (with the 1,091.4 µW/cm² light pulse) and totally suppressed nocturnal locomotor activity. These results show that melatonin rhythms persisted in tench exposed to low light intensity although the amplitude of the rhythm is affected. In addition, it was observed that light pulses applied at MD affected plasma melatonin content and locomotor activity. Such a low threshold suggests that the melatonin system is capable of transducing light even under dim conditions, which may be used by this nocturnal fish to synchronize to weak night light signals (e.g., moonlight cycles).     

Effect of Light Intensity on the Oviposition Rhythm of the Altitudinal Strains of Drosophila Ananassae

The sensitivity of the circadian photoreceptors mediating entrainment of the eclosion rhythm and phase shifts of oviposition rhythm of the high altitude (HA) strain of Drosophila ananassae originating from Badrinath (5123 m above sea level) in the Himalayas was compared with the low altitude (LA) strain from Firozpur (179 m above sea level). Reduced photic sensitivity of the HA strain is regarded as the result of natural selection, which led to the weakening of the coupling mechanism between the circadian pacemaker and light at the high altitude of origin. The present study was designed to determine whether or not the photic entrainment of the oviposition rhythm of the HA strain of D. ananassae is also altered by the high altitude of its origin, and the results are compared with those of the LA strain. The effects of light intensity on the phase angle difference (Ψ), degree of rhythmicity (R), the percent oviposition in photophase, the threshold light intensity (i.e., the intensity at which stable entrainment occurred), and the saturation light intensity (i.e., the intensity beyond which the values of Ψ or amplitude of rhythm remained unaltered) were determined. Entrainment was studied in light–dark cycles in which the light intensity of 12 h of photophase varied from 1 to 1000 lux, and complete darkness prevailed in all scotophases. The oviposition rhythm of the HA strain was arrhythmic from 1 to 90 lux, weakly rhythmic at 95 lux, but rhythmic at or above 100 lux, while that of the LA strain was weakly rhythmic at 1 lux but rhythmic at or above 2 lux. Oviposition of the HA strain occurred mostly in the photophase, while that of the LA strain occurred in the scotophase; as a result, the oviposition medians of the HA strain were around the subjective forenoons while those of the LA strain were around the subjective evenings. The percent of oviposition in photophase increased from 68 to 98 in the HA strain and from 5 to 33 in the LA strain as light intensity increased from 1 to 1000 lux. In the HA strain, the Ψ values were significantly less and values of R and percent oviposition in photophase were significantly more than those of the LA strain at each level of light intensity. Threshold and saturation intensities for Ψ were 100 and 700 lux, respectively, for the HA strain, but just 2 and 45 lux, respectively, for the LA strain. The saturation intensity for R was 650 and 700 lux for the HA and LA strains, respectively. These results extend the confirmation that the reduced photic sensitivity of the HA strain might have been acquired through natural selection in response to environmental conditions at the high altitude of its origin.     

野外条件下光强对盾叶薯蓣影响的初步研究

通过在野外栽培条件下的笼罩实验(4个光强等级1855～2104,913～1004,525～615,141～215μmol*m-2*s-1),发现光强影响盾叶薯蓣的根状茎发芽率、叶面积、叶片丙二醛(MDA)含量、叶片过氧化物酶活性(POD)、叶片含水量以及整个植株的生物量.弱光可能因带入的热能少而对根状茎发芽不利.叶片含水量随光照强度的降低而增多.叶面积随光照强度的减小而增加,在525～615μmol*m-2*s-1光强下,盾叶薯蓣叶片的MDA含量最低,POD活性最低,地上生物量最高,对于地下部分而言,最适光强是913～1004μ*mol*m-2*s-1,在此光强下,根状茎生物量增加近3倍.故在生产中,一定程度的强光逆境是有利的.     

苗龄与红光对向日葵原生质体分离和培养的影响

用1.0—1.5%(W/V)纤维素酶(Onozuka R-10)和0.3—0.5%(W/V)果胶酶[Pectinasc (Serva)]配合分离到大量有活力的向日葵下胚轴原生质体,经液体浅层培养或琼脂糖小块培养7—10天后,均能持续分裂到细胞团或体细胞胚,至14—21天形成大量肉眼可见的小愈伤组织(直径0.5—2.0mm)。比较试验表明:(1)影响向日葵下胚轴原生质体分裂生长的首要因素是起始材料无菌苗的生理状态。用红光照射无菌苗,能明显地促使下胚轴原生质体在较低密度(1×10~4/ml)培养时,也能持续分裂,再生小愈伤组织;(2)在MS培养基上添加5mmol/L谷氨酰胺或以7.5mmol/L谷氨酰胺代替原培养基中的无机氮,能促使原生质体高频率(44.4%左右)分裂,再生愈伤组织。     

不同浓度活性炭对墨兰离体培养的影响

以墨兰(Cymbidium sinense)地下根状茎段为外植体,探讨不同浓度活性炭对其离体培养的影响。结果表明,在MS+NAA 2.0 mg/L+10%椰汁的培养基中加入1.0 g/L活性炭对原球茎诱导效果最好;MS+BA 3.0 mg/L+NAA 0.5 mg/L+4.0 g/L活性炭适合于不定芽分化;在1/2 MS+NAA 1.0 mg/L+BA 0.5 mg/L+10%椰汁的培养基中加入0.5~3.0 g/L活性炭有利于提高成苗率。     

Growth and Solute Composition in Two Wheat Species Experiencing Combined Influence of Stress Conditions1

The effects of environmental stress combinations on the soluble metabolites were investigated in several cultivars of Triticum aestivum and T. durum. The seedlings grown at optimum (24/16°C), low (5/–5°C) (LT), and high (40/30°C) (HT) day/night temperature conditions were exposed to waterlogging, drought, and salinity (0.7% NaCl, w/w) stresses for six days. Root and shoot fresh weight significantly decreased under waterlogging, drought and salt stresses. Fresh weight was most reduced at severe drought + HT combinations. The lowest relative water content was found under drought stress + HT combination. Soluble carbohydrate (SC) contents increased under LT conditions, but decreased under HT conditions. Under HT + salt combinations, T. aestivum genotypes showed higher SC content thanT. durum genotypes. Proline content significantly increased in the case of water deficit and salt stress. Under drought and salt stresses, T. aestivum genotypes had lower proline contents than T. durum genotypes. These results indicate that biochemical responses to drought, waterlogging, and salt stresses were significantly changed in wheat seedlings under LT and HT conditions.     

几种培养基及光照对蝴蝶兰叶片外植体褐变的影响

蝴蝶兰叶片外植体在MS纸桥培养基上培养10 d发生褐变率较低,1/2 MS次之,MS、B₅和N₆培养基外植体褐变率最高。MS培养基中铁盐加倍或微量元素缺乏造成外植体严重褐变,培养基积累很多褐色物质;减少琼脂含量,外植体褐变加重;添加柠檬酸可减轻外植体褐变;而添加活性炭、抗坏血酸或PVP对减轻外植体褐变无显著作用。光照强度增加外植体褐变严重。     

光强对盾叶薯蓣生长发育及皂素含量的影响

以生长1年的安姜3号盾叶薯蓣(Dioscorea zingiberensis)为研究材料,用盆栽方法对其进行不同遮阴处理,研究其生长发育、根茎产量和皂素含量等的变化特征.结果显示:(1)全光照下薯蓣植株生长较弱,20%自然光下生长茂盛;随着光照强度的减弱,株高、茎粗、叶片厚度和鲜叶质量都呈先升后降的趋势;自由水含量总体上呈上升趋势,自由水与束缚水的比值呈先升后降趋势;中等遮阴条件下茎分支数最多,叶面积较小,叶宽与叶长的比值也较小;(2)中度遮阴下总叶绿素和叶绿素a含量最大,而叶绿素b随着光强的减弱大致呈先降后升的趋势.(3)随着光照强度的减弱,根鲜重大致呈增加的趋势,根部芽头数量呈先升后降趋势,根部含水量呈先降后升趋势,皂素含量则与之相反.研究发现,不同光照条件下薯蓣根茎鲜重无显著差异,但光照条件对其地上部分和地下部分生物量的分配却有显著影响;安姜3号盾叶薯蓣在40%自然光强下生长发育最好且皂素含量最高.     

Influence of Light Intensity on Methanotrophic Bacterial Activity in Petit Saut Reservoir, French Guiana

One year after impoundment in January 1994, methanotrophic bacteria in Petit Saut Reservoir (French Guiana) were active at the oxic-anoxic interface. This activity was revealed by the sudden extinction of diffusive methane emission (600 metric tons of CH₄ · day⁻¹ for the whole lake surface area, i.e., 360 km²). Lifting of inhibition was suspected. After reviewing the potential inhibitors of this physiological guild (O₂, NH₄⁺, sulfides) and considering the similarities with nitrifiers, we suggest that sunlight influenced the methanotrophic bacteria. On the basis of phospholipid analysis, only a type II methanotrophic community was identified in the lake. Both growth and methanotrophic activity of an enriched culture, obtained in the laboratory, were largely inhibited by illumination over 150 microeinsteins · m⁻² · s⁻¹. These results were confirmed on a pure culture of Methylosinus trichosporium OB3B. In situ conditions showed that water transparency was quite stable in 1994 and 1995 and that the oxycline moved steadily deeper until January 1995. Considering the mean illumination profile during this period, we showed that removal of methanotrophic growth inhibition could only occur below a 2-m depth. The oxycline reached this level in October 1994, allowing methanotrophic bacteria to develop and to consume the entire methane emission 4 months later.     

Fluorometric Characterization of Two Picocyanobacteria Strains from Lakes of Different Underwater Light Quality

Unicellular autofluorescent picoplankton ranging from 0.6 to 0.9 ym in diameter were isolated from Lake Maggiore and from Lake Balaton. The cyanobacterial isolates contain two accessory pigments: phycoerythrin (PE) and phycocyanin (PC) respectively. The in vivo spectral properties of the two clones were compared to identify characteristics of the pigments. In vivo fluorescence excitation and emission spectra revealed that clones with PE are composed only of phycoerythrobilin chromophores and lack phycourobilin. Glycerol treatment enhances the fluorescence yield up to 3 times and improves the detection sensitivity of PE particularly at 436 and 520 nm and of PC at 600 nm. The vertical profiles of the underwater irradiance at different wavelengths were measured in both lakes to study the light quality of the natural environment of the two strains. Growth rates of both clones growing at different light intensities and wavelengths, selected by the same filters used for vertical profiles, were estimated. The results showed a difference in growth rate of phycoerythrin and phycocyanin containing cells exposed to an equal quantum flux of preferential illumination. In particular the maximum growth rate was reached by PE cells exposed to green light and by PC cells exposed to red light.     

Influence of Age and Light on the Distribution and Development of Nitrate Reductase in Greening Barley Leaves

The relation between leaf age and the induction of nitrate reductase activity by continuous and intermittent light was studied with barley seedlings (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Club Mariout). In general, nitrate reductase activity declined as the period of growth in darkness was extended beyond 5 days. Maximum activity was found near the leaf tip while activity was lowest in the morphologically youngest tissue near the base of the lamina. Increased activity was observed after continuous illumination of dark-grown seedlings for 24 hours. The increase in activity in response to light was greatly reduced when the dark pretreatment period was extended beyond 8 days. The amount of nitrate reductase activity present in the different sections of the leaf was closely related to the amount of polyribosomes present. The pattern of chlorophyll accumulation closely parallelled that of increases in nitrate reductase activity. The initial lag in the induction of nitrate reductase activity was removed by a 10-minute light treatment 6 hours before placing dark-grown barley seedlings in light. The enzyme was also induced under flashing light with various dark intervals. These induction curves closely resembled those of chlorophyll accumulation under the same conditions. The development of photosynthetic CO₂ fixation follows the same induction pattern in this system. Our results suggest that photosynthetic products may be required for the induction of significant levels of nitrate reductase activity in leaves of dark-grown seedlings, although other light effects may not be discounted.