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Enhanced growth of the red algaPorphyra yezoensis Ueda in high CO2 concentrations

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Abstract

Leafy thalli of the red algaPorphyra yezoensis Ueda, initiated from conchospores released from free-living conchocelis, were cultured using aeration with high CO2. It was found that the higher the CO2 concentration, the faster the growth of the thalli. Aeration with elevated CO2 lowered pH in dark, but raised pH remarkably in light with the thalli, because the photosynthetic conversion of HCO −3 to OH− and CO2 proceeded much faster than the dissociation of hydrated CO2 releasing H+. Photosynthesis of the alga was found to be enhanced in the seawater of elevated dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC, CO2 + HCO −3 + CO −3 ). It is concluded that the increased pH in the light resulted in the increase of DIC in the culture media, thus enhancing photosynthesis and growth. The relevance of the results to removal of atmospheric CO2 by marine algae is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kansai Environmental Engineering Center, Nakazaki-nishi 2-3-39, Kita-ku, Osaka, 530, Japan

    Kunshan Gao

  2. Tokyo University of Fisheries, Konan-4, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108, Japan

    Yusho Aruga

  3. Research Institute for Food Science, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto, 661, Japan

    Kozi Asada

  4. Technical Research Center, The Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc., Nakoji, Amagasaki, Hyogo-ken, 661, Japan

    Toshiaki Ishihara, Toru Akano & Masataka Kiyohara

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  1. Kunshan Gao
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  2. Yusho Aruga
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  3. Kozi Asada
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  4. Toshiaki Ishihara
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  5. Toru Akano
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  6. Masataka Kiyohara
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Gao, K., Aruga, Y., Asada, K. et al. Enhanced growth of the red algaPorphyra yezoensis Ueda in high CO2 concentrations. J Appl Phycol 3, 355–362 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02392889

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02392889

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