The effect of nitric oxide on the growth of marine phytoplankton

Abstract

The incubation experiments of Skeletonema costatum, Dicrateria zhanjiangensis nov. sp., and Platymonas subcordiformis, and those of Emiliania huxleyi were carried out in the Marine Physical Chemistry Laboratory in Ocean University of China and in the Marine Organic Geochemistry Laboratory in the University of Georgia respectively. Nitric oxide was added into the media when these marine microalgae were growing. We found the growth of these four microalgae were promoted or inhibited when nitric oxide of different concentrations was added one or two times each day during the cultivation process. The results are consistent with the influence of nitric oxide on the growth of high plants. The results show that nitric oxide may be a new factor of regulation and control for the phytoplankton growth in seawater.