Ammonium and UV radiation stimulate the accumulation of mycosporine-like amino acids in Porphyra columbina (Rhodophyta) from Patagonia, Argentina

The combined effects of ammonium concentration and UV radiation on the red alga Porphyra columbina (Montagne) from the Patagonian coast (Chubut, Argentina) was determined using short-term (less than a week) experimentation. Discs of P. columbina were incubated with three ammonium concentrations (0, 50, and 300 muM NH4Cl) in anilluminated chamber (PAR=300 mumol photons.m(-2).s(-1), UVA=15 W.m(-2), UVB=0.7 W.m(-2)) at 15degreesC. Algae incubated at 300 muM ammonium showed a significant increase (P<0.05) in the concentration of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) compared with the initial value or with the other ammonium treatments. The increase of MAAs was, however, a function of the quality of irradiance received, with a higher increase in samples exposed to UVA compared with UVB (29% and 5% increase, respectively). However, UVB radiation was more effective in inducing MAA synthesis per unit energy received by the algae. Samples exposed to PAR only had an intermediate increase in MAA concentration of 16%. Chl a concentration decreased through the incubation with the greatest decrease at high ammonium concentration. Phycobiliprotein (BP) decreased through time with the smallest decrease occurring at high ammonium concentration. Photoinhibition (as a decrease of optimal quantum yield) was significantly greater under nitrogen-deprived conditions than that under replete ammonium levels. Maximal gross photosynthesis (GP(max)), as oxygen evolution, and maximal electron transport rate (ETRmax), as chl fluorescence, increased with the ammonium concentration. Positive relationships between maximal GP or ETR and pigment ratios (BP/chl a and MAAs/chl a) and negative relationships with chl a concentration were found.