Intrapopulation heterogeneity of the fluorescence parameters of the marine plankton alga Thalassiosira weissflogii at various nitrogen levels

• Published in: Microbiology (New York) Vol. 78; no. 4; pp. 419 - 427
• Main Authors: Voronova, E. N, Il'ash, L. V, Pogosyan, S. I, Ulanova, A. Yu, Matorin, D. N, Cho, Man-gi, Rubin, A. B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : SP MAIK Nauka/Interperiodica 01.08.2009; SP MAIK Nauka/Interperiodica
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Experimental Articles; Life Sciences; Medical Microbiology; Microbiology; Thalassiosira weissflogii; nitrogen deficiency; microfluorimetry
• ISSN: 0026-2617; 1608-3237
• DOI: 10.1134/S0026261709040043

Fluorescence of the marine alga Thalassiosira weissflogii (Grunow) Fryxell et Hasle with open (F o ) and closed (F m ) reaction centers of photosystem 2 (PS 2) and its relative variable fluorescence (F v/F m ) were measured at various levels of inorganic nitrogen. A significant heterogeneity of the population in terms of these parameters was revealed. Some cells within the population were more sensitive to nitrogen deficiency, and their photosynthetic apparatus was disrupted to a greater extent. The cells within a population also differed in terms of their ability to recover after incubation at low nitrogen levels. Enhancement of nitrogen deficiency resulted in an increase in the variability of the F o and F v/F m values of the cells. Fluorescence variability decreased at a less pronounced deficiency. Fluorescence variability should be taken into consideration in the studies concerning responses of algae to changes in nutrient contents.