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Differential responses of Nostoc sphaeroides and Arthrospira platensis to solar ultraviolet radiation exposure

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Abstract

During October to December 2003 we carried out experiments to assess the impact of high solar radiation levels (as normally occurring in a tropical region of Southern China) on the cyanobacteria Nostoc sphaeroides and Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis. Two types of experiments were done: a) Short-term (i.e., 20 min) oxygen production of samples exposed to two radiation treatments (i.e., PAR+UVR—280–700 nm, and PAR only—400–700 nm, PAB and P treatments, respectively), and b) Long-term (i.e., 12 days) evaluation of photosynthetic quantum yield (Y) of samples exposed to three radiation treatments (i.e., PAB; PA (PAR+UV-A, 320–700 nm) and P treatments, respectively). N. sphaeroides was resistant to UVR, with no significant differences (P>0.05) in oxygen production within 20 min of exposure, but with a slight inhibition of Y within hours. A fast recovery of Y was observed after one day even in samples exposed to full solar radiation. A. platensis, on the other hand, was very sensitive to solar radiation (mainly to UV-B), as determined by oxygen production and Y measurements. A. platensis had a circadian rhythm of photosynthetic inhibition, and during the first six days of exposure to solar radiation, it varied between 80 and 100% at local noon, but cells recovered significantly during afternoon hours. There was a significant decrease in photosynthetic inhibition after the first week of exposure with values less than 50% at local noon in samples receiving full solar radiation. Samples exposed to PA and P treatments recovered much faster (within 2–3 days), and there were no significant differences in Y between the three radiation treatments when irradiance was low (late afternoon to early morning). Long-term acclimation seems to be important in A. platensis to cope with high UVR levels however, it is not attained through the synthesis of UV-absorbing compounds but it seems to be mostly related to adaptive morphological changes.

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Abbreviations

Fm:

Maximal fluorescence in dark-adapted cells (all reaction centers are closed)

Fo:

Initial chlorophyll fluorescence in dark-adapted cells (all reaction centers are open)

Fv:

Variable fluorescence (= Fm-Fo)

Fo':

Fm' and Fv': The same for light-adapted state

Ft:

Current fluorescence of light-adapted cells

PAR:

Photosynthetic Active radiation (400–700 nm)

UV-A:

Ultraviolet-A radiation (315–400 nm)

UV-B:

Ultraviolet-B radiation (280–315 nm)

UVR:

Ultraviolet radiation (280–400 nm)

Y:

Fv'/Fm': Quantum yield (Genty-parameter).

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  1. E. Walter Helbling & Virginia E. Villafañe

    Present address: Estación de Fotobiología Playa Unión, Casilla de Correos N∘ 15 (9103) Rawson, Chubut, Argentina

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Biology Institute, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, 515063, China

    E. Walter Helbling, Kunshan Gao, Hongxia Ai, Zengling Ma & Virginia E. Villafañe

  2. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina

    E. Walter Helbling & Virginia E. Villafañe

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  1. E. Walter Helbling
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Correspondence to E. Walter Helbling.

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Helbling, E.W., Gao, K., Ai, H. et al. Differential responses of Nostoc sphaeroides and Arthrospira platensis to solar ultraviolet radiation exposure. J Appl Phycol 18, 57–66 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-005-9015-5

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