Abstract
Abstract The effects of green and white light at different intensities upon photosynthetic rates of Gracilaria compressa and their relationships to different pigment contents are reported. This is a typical rhodophycean alga, with adaptation to light intensity in the fronds of individual plants. In fact, the green distal portion, which is exposed to direct sun-light (within a depth of a few metres), lacks phycoerythrin and shows a great proportion of carotenoids. The red proximal portion, which receives less light as a result of self-shading, synthesizes phycoerythrin and more chlorophyll. The photosynthetic activity in the two portions, assayed under different light conditions, indicates that the abundant oxygen output in the basal red part of the thallus, also at low light intensity, may be due to a high content of photosynthetic pigments. Conversely, the absence of phycoerythrin and lower chlorophyll content in the distal yellow-green part permits a reasonable photosynthetic rate only at higher light i...
Published Version
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