Abstract
Chlorophyll, protein, DNA and RNA concentrations in cultures ofCyclotella nana (Hustedt) andDunaliella tertiolecta (Butcher) were higher in blue light and lower in green light than in white light of the same intensity. Total carotenoid concentrations were highest in green light. Total pigment concentrations were highest in cells grown in blue light, lowest in those from green light. The relative changes in pigment concentrations associated with differences in spectral composition of the radiation are comparable to those often observed in phytoplankton from various depths in stratified natural water. Light adaptation in algae as a response to light quality is suggested. The chemical composition of plankton algae can be expected to vary considerably with depth.
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Communicated byT. R. Parsons, Nanaimo
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Wallen, D.G., Geen, G.H. Light quality and concentration of proteins, RNA, DNA and photosynthetic pigments in two species of marine plankton algae. Mar. Biol. 10, 44–51 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02026765
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02026765