Environmental factors influencing photosynthetic efficiency of the micro red alga Porphyridium cruentum (Agardh) Nägeli in light-limited cultures

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Environmental factors influencing photosynthetic efficiency of the micro red alga Porphyridium cruentum (Agardh) Nägeli in light-limited cultures

New Phytologist 118 (4), 513–519. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.1991.tb00990.x

New PhytologistVolume 118 Issue 4 Page 513 - August 1991

EDMUND T. Y. LEE11Microbial Physiology Group, Division of Biosphere Sciences, King's College, University of London, Campden Hill Road, London W8 7AH1
MICHAEL J. BAZIN11Microbial Physiology Group, Division of Biosphere Sciences, King's College, University of London, Campden Hill Road, London W8 7AH

1Microbial Physiology Group, Division of Biosphere Sciences, King's College, University of London, Campden Hill Road, London W8 7AH

Summary

Steady state growth of the red alga Porphyridium cruentum was obtained in light-limited chemostat cultures at different temperatures, pH and salinities over a range of specific growth rates. Geometric design of the reactors was found to have no effect on the yield and photosynthetic efficiency (PE) of the biomass. Under optimal growth conditions, that is at 23 °C, pH 8 and NaCl concentration of 0.42 M, the maximum specific growth rate was 0.065hl which corresponded to a generation time of 10.7 h. With a given light input the biomass output rate was found to be constant over the range of specific growth rates studied. The values of the maximum growth yield (YG) and maximum PE of P. Cruentum were in the range of 0.0064–0.0074 g kj1 and 13.4–15.5% respectively, when growth was optimal. This PE value corresponds to a quantum demand of 15 per O2 molecule evolved. Different temperatures, pH and salinities were demonstrated to cause a 1.5 to 2-fold variation in the maximum PE. The maintenance energy was found to be virtually zero under all conditions.

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