Photosynthetic responses to photosynthetically active radiation and temperature including chilling-light stress on the heteromorphic life history stages of a brown alga, Cladosiphon okamuranus (Chordariaceae) from Ryukyu Islands, Japan

Photosynthetic responses to temperature and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) were investigated on the heteromorphic life history stages (macroscopic and microscopic stages) of an edible Japanese brown alga, Cladosiphon okamuranus from the Ryukyu Islands. Measurements were carried out by using optical dissolved oxygen sensors and a pulse-amplitude modulated fluorometer. Maximum net photosynthetic rates and other parameters of the Photosynthesis - PAR curves at 28 degrees C were somewhat similar in both life history stages, without characteristic photoinhibition at 1000mol photons m(-2) s(-1). Results of oxygenic gross photosynthesis and dark respiration experiments over a temperature range of 8-40 degrees C revealed similar temperature optima for both stages (29.7 degrees C, macroscopic stage; 30.3 degrees C, microscopic stage), which support their observed occurrences in the habitat during summer. Maximum quantum yields of photosystem II (PSII) (F-v/F-m) were relatively stable at low temperatures with the highest at 15.1 degrees C for the macroscopic stage and at 16.5 degrees C for the microscopic stage; but dropped at higher temperatures especially above 28 degrees C. Continuous exposures (6h) to 200 and 1000mol photons m(-2) s(-1) at 8, 16, and 28 degrees C revealed greater depressions in effective quantum yields of PSII (phi(PSII)) of the microscopic stage at 8 degrees C, as well as its F-v/F-m that barely increased after 6h of dark acclimation. Whereas post-dark acclimation F-v/F-m of both stages exposed to low PAR fairly recovered at 28 degrees C, suggesting their photosynthetic tolerance to such high temperature. Under natural conditions, both heteromorphic stages of C. okamuranus may persist throughout the year in this region. Beyond its northern limit of distribution, the microscopic stage of this species may suffer from photodamage, as enhanced by low winter temperatures; hence, its restricted occurrence.