Relation Between Respiration and Photosynthesis in the Green Alga, Ankistrodesmus braunii.

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The gaseous metabolism of a green alga, A. braunii, was measured in darkness and in light using labelled O2 and labelled CO2. Production and consumption rates of each gas were determined concurrently using a mass spectrometer. At low light intensities O2 uptake rate was the same as in the dark. At higher light intensities an increased O2 consumption was observed which was proportional to the rate of photosynthetic O2 production. At low light intensity (below compensation) CO2 evolution rate was less than in the dark. Over a range of higher light intensities there was no further inhibition of CO2 production. These results are in accordance with a postulated mechanism of interaction between a reducing intermediate generated by photochemical processes and the respiratory system of the alga.