Fluorescence characteristics of photoinhibition and recovery in a sun and a shade species of the red algal genus porphyra.

The effects of light treatment (2000 micromole photons per square meter per second) for varying periods (up to 60 minutes) on chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics and light-limited rates of O(2) evolution were examined in two Porphyra species. Brief light exposures (5-60 seconds) produced a large decrease in variable fluorescence which was not accompained by photoinhibition of light-limited O(2) evolution rates. This rapid decrease in variable fluorescence was suppressed by carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, indicating that it was related to formation of a proton gradient across the thylakiod membranes. A second phase of fluorescence quenching started after 5 minutes of illumination in the case of the shade species, Porphyra nereocystis Anderson, and after 30 minutes of illumination in the case of the sun species, Porphyra perforata J. Agardh. The rate of fluorescence quenching in the second phase was similar to the rate of photoinhibition of light-limited O(2) evolution in both cases. The dark recovery of variable fluorescence in light-treated plants was also biphasic consisting of a rapid first phase and a slower second phase in both the Porphyra species. Recovery of P. perforata was more complete than that of P. nereocystis over the same recovery period. This greater capacity for recovery could represent a mechanism by which P. perforata is more resistant to photoinhibition than P. nereocystis.