Influences of Blue and Red Light on the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Chlorella kessleri*

Abstract

AbstractIn white light of 33.2 μmol . m−2 . s−1 oxygen evolution of Chlorella kessleri is about 30 % higher after growth in blue light than after growth in red light of the same quantum fluence rate. When determined by the light‐induced absorbance change at γ 820 nm, blue light‐adapted cells possess about 60% more reaction centres per total chlorophyll in photosystem II. Correspondingly, the cells exhibit about 30% more Hill activity of PS II. Conversely, red light‐adapted cells contain relatively more reaction centres and higher electron flow capacities of photosystem I. The distribution of total chlorophyll among the pigment‐protein complexes, CPI, CPIa, CPa, and LHC II, corresponds to these data. There is more chlorophyll associated with the light‐harvesting complex of PS II, LHC II, in cells under blue light conditions, but more chlorophyll bound to both complexes of PS I, CPI and CPIa, in cells under red light conditions. The respective ratios of chlorophyll a/chlorophyll b of all complexes are identical for blue and red light‐adapted cells. This results in a higher relative amount of chlorophyll b in blue light‐adapted cells.Total carotenoids per total chlorophyll are increased by 20% in red light‐adapted cells. Their distribution among the pigment‐protein complexes is unknown, however the ratios of lutein, neoxanthin and violaxanthin extractable from LHC II are different in blue (32.1:35.9:32.0) and in red (51.4:26.7:21.9) light‐adaptod cells.