Effects of red and far-red light pulses on the chlorophyll and biliprotein accumulation in the red alga Corallina elongata

Abstract

The effects of red and far-red light pulses on the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and phycobiliprotein) in the red alga Corallina elongata are examined. Chlorophyll a, phycocyanin and allophycocyanin synthesis is induced by red light pulses. In contrast, phycoerythrin synthesis is not induced by red light. To investigate the involvement of phytochrome successive red and far-red light pulses were applied. Since the effect of red light shows far-red reversibility, the involvement of phytochrome is proposed. The existence of other photoreceptors controlling chlorophyll and biliprotein synthesis is not discarded.