XVI International Botanical Congess

Phytoplankton live and thrive under dynamic light regimes that vary both intensity and spectral signature. Traditionally, static growth-light cultures have been used to study photoprotective responses of microalgae without regard to mixing. Studies that have addressed mixing have generally modelled light fields on movement that somewhat mimics Langmuir circulation. The resulting sine wave function might not represent realistic mixing regimes. We have begun addressing the question of the effects of static and dynamic light fields upon the photoprotective capabilities of the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, using an analytical photobioreactor with a dynamic dye-filter that is capable of generating a myriad of dynamic growth-light fields. The kinetics and functionality of the xanthophyll-cycle will be discussed.