Investigation of the maximum quantum yield of PS II in Haematococcus pluvialis cell cultures during growth: Effects of chemical or high-intensity light treatment

In this study, we investigated the increase in photosynthetic quantum yield that occurs in advance of increased microalgal growth. Haematococcus pluvialis was cultivated under normal conditions; the number of cells, the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), and optical density were measured. We observed an increase in Fv/Fm approximately 72 h prior to the cell growth phase. To confirm the relationship between photosynthetic yield and growth, samples were treated with several chemicals under high-intensity light illumination and control conditions to inhibit photosystem II and induce a decrease in the quantum photosynthetic yield. The samples were exposed to high-intensity light at an irradiance of 400 μmol photons m−2 s−1 for varied amount of time and were treated with chemicals such as 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea, nigericin sodium salt and valinomycin. We observed that both the photooxidation of photosystem II reaction centers and the formation of transmembrane electrochemical gradients led to an initial decrease in fluorescence yield after the onset of high-intensity light illumination. We also observed that treatment of high-intensity light illuminated cells with antibiotics after adaptation to moderate light intensities caused a difference in photosynthetic activity. In conclusion, the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II is obtained prior to the cell growth phase and can therefore be used as a prediction parameter for cell growth.

► We investigated the changes in cell numbers and in the maximum quantum yield of PS II (Fv/Fm) during microalgal growth.
► Samples were treated with several chemicals (DCMU, nigericin sodium salt and valinomycin) under high-intensity light illumination (400 μmol photons m−2 s−1).
► Both high-intensity light illumination and chemical treatments led to decrease in cell growth and photosynthetic activity.
► The maximum quantum yield of photosystem II is obtained prior to the cell growth phase and can therefore be used as a prediction parameter for cell growth.