Physiological responses of Porphyra haitanensis (Rhodophyta) to copper and cadmium exposure

Xifeng Zhu; Dinghui Zou; Yanhua Huang; Junming Cao; Yuping Sun; Bing Chen; Xiaoying Chen

doi:10.1515/bot-2016-0117

Article

Physiological responses of Porphyra haitanensis (Rhodophyta) to copper and cadmium exposure

Xifeng Zhu
Xifeng Zhu is Assistant Professor of Fisheries at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. He was awarded an MS in Marine Biology by Shantou University. More recent research has concentrated on algal physiology and animal nutrition and feed science.
, Dinghui Zou
Dinghui Zou is Professor of Marine Biology at the College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology. He was awarded a PhD in Hydrobiology by the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. More recent research has concentrated on algal physiology and applied phycology.
, Yanhua Huang
Yanhua Huang is Professor of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. She was awarded a PhD in Animal Nutrition and Feed Science by South China Agricultural University. More recent research has concentrated on animal nutrition and feed science.
, Junming Cao
Junming Cao is Professor of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. He was awarded a PhD in Nutritional Physiology and Biochemistry by the University of Burgundy. More recent research has concentrated on animal nutrition and feed science.
, Yuping Sun
Yuping Sun is Associate Professor of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. She was awarded a PhD in Hydrobiology by Jinan University. More recent research has concentrated on animal nutrition and aquaculture.
, Bing Chen
Bing Chen is Associate Professor of Fisheries at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. She was awarded an MS in Aquaculture by South China Agricultural University. More recent research has concentrated on animal nutrition and aquaculture.
and Xiaoying Chen
Xiaoying Chen is Assistant Professor of Fisheries at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. She was awarded an MS in Aquaculture by South China Agricultural University. More recent research has concentrated on animal nutrition and aquaculture.

Published/Copyright: February 7, 2017

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From the journal Botanica Marina Volume 60 Issue 1

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effects of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) on the physiology of the red macroalga Porphyra haitanensis Chang and Zheng. The alga was cultured in media with different Cu or Cd concentrations for 7 days. The relative growth rate was significantly reduced at Cu concentrations of 0.10 mg l⁻¹ and above or at Cd concentrations of 4 mg l⁻¹ and above. Chlorophyll a (Chl a), carotenoids (Car), phycoerythrin (PE) and phycocyanin (PC) contents decreased at high Cu or Cd concentrations, and PE content increased at 0.10 mg l⁻¹ Cu or 4–8 mg l⁻¹ Cd. Moreover, the optimal quantum yield, maximum net photosynthetic rate (P_m) and apparent photosynthetic efficiency (α) were significantly reduced at high Cu or Cd concentrations. In contrast, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased in response to Cu or Cd treatment. Catalase activity increased at 2–8 mg l⁻¹ Cd and significantly declined at 0.50 mg l⁻¹ Cu or 10 mg l⁻¹ Cd. Nitrate reductase (NR) activity declined at high Cu or Cd concentrations. Consequently, both Cu and Cd were physiological stressors for P. haitanensis, with Cu being more toxic than Cd. This work has generated valuable knowledge about the toxic effects of Cu and Cd on macroalgae.

Keywords: cadmium; copper; growth; photosynthesis; Porphyra haitanensis

About the authors

Xifeng Zhu

Xifeng Zhu is Assistant Professor of Fisheries at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. He was awarded an MS in Marine Biology by Shantou University. More recent research has concentrated on algal physiology and animal nutrition and feed science.

Dinghui Zou

Dinghui Zou is Professor of Marine Biology at the College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology. He was awarded a PhD in Hydrobiology by the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. More recent research has concentrated on algal physiology and applied phycology.

Yanhua Huang

Yanhua Huang is Professor of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. She was awarded a PhD in Animal Nutrition and Feed Science by South China Agricultural University. More recent research has concentrated on animal nutrition and feed science.

Junming Cao

Junming Cao is Professor of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. He was awarded a PhD in Nutritional Physiology and Biochemistry by the University of Burgundy. More recent research has concentrated on animal nutrition and feed science.

Yuping Sun

Yuping Sun is Associate Professor of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. She was awarded a PhD in Hydrobiology by Jinan University. More recent research has concentrated on animal nutrition and aquaculture.

Bing Chen

Bing Chen is Associate Professor of Fisheries at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. She was awarded an MS in Aquaculture by South China Agricultural University. More recent research has concentrated on animal nutrition and aquaculture.

Xiaoying Chen

Xiaoying Chen is Assistant Professor of Fisheries at the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science. She was awarded an MS in Aquaculture by South China Agricultural University. More recent research has concentrated on animal nutrition and aquaculture.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 41276148) and Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong (no. 2015 A020216004).

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Received: 2016-10-27

Accepted: 2016-12-22

Published Online: 2017-2-7

Published in Print: 2017-2-1

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/bot-2016-0117

Keywords for this article

cadmium; copper; growth; photosynthesis; Porphyra haitanensis