Photoinhibition of photosynthesis in Macrocystis pyrifera (Phaeophyceae), Chondrus crispus (Rhodophyceae) and Ulva lactuca (Chlorophyceae) in outdoor culture systems

The effect of solar radiation on photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence associated to photosystem II (PS II) was determined in the Phaeophyta Macrocystis pyrifera, the Rhodophyta Chondrus crispus and the Chlorophyta Ulva lactuca by oxygen evolution and pulse-amplitude-modulated (PAM) fluorescence. The algae were maintained in 1.2 m3 outdoor tanks with constant aeration and at 8, 26 and 100% incident irradiance (E(o)). All three species showed a decrease in deltaF/F'm values during solar noon compared to values in the morning and afternoon, suggesting a photoinhibition of photosynthesis. In general, photoinhibition was negatively correlated to increasing daily irradiance in all three species. Photoinhibition in C. crispus occurred in tissue incubated at 8, 26 and 100% E(o), while in M. pyrifera and U. lactuca a decrease in deltaF/F'm values was only observed in tissue incubated at 100% E(o). This suggests that species that naturally grow at greater depths might be more susceptible to excessive light when cultured in shallow waters compared to species that naturally inhabit shallower depths. In M. pyrifera, deltaF/F'm values were lower in the afternoon than those in the morning, suggesting slower repair mechanisms of the photosystem II compared to the other species. The results suggest that photoinhibition could be reduced by reducing incident irradiance to culture systems or increasing of biomass to promote self-shading. Gross oxygenic photosynthesis increased linearly at low electron transport rates after which it saturated in all three species. This suggests that chlorophyll fluorescence could be used as an indicator of the physiological status of macroalgae maintained in dense aquaculture systems.