Effects of Temperature & Illuminance on Chlorella Growth Uncoupled From Cell Division

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Abstract
The effects of temperature and illuminance on the accumulation of cell material were studied in synchronized cultures of the high-temperature strain, Chlorella pyrenoidosa 7-11-05. The values for growth characteristics, such as light saturating intensity, rates of growth at light saturation and at half saturation, as well as the light intensity necessary to cause a decline in the growth rate with the further increase in illuminance, were higher than those previously reported for the nonsynchronized cultures. It was theorized that limitation of growth may or may not be located within the photosynthetic mechanism. Over a wide range of temperature and illuminance, growth is limited by factors other than photosynthesis. One of these factors in nonsynchronized cultures can be connected with cell division. At low temperatures and higher light intensities growth may be limited by photosynthesis. The limitation depends on the unfavorable balance between the processes of renewal and destruction of chlorophyll and on the resulting injury to photosynthesis.