Effects of Boron Deficiency on 86Rubidium Uptake and Photosynthesis in the Diatom Cylindrotheca fusiformis

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Abstract
Culturing the diatom C. fusiformis under B-deficient conditions leads to changes in 86Rb uptake and photosynthesis prior to any effect on the rate of cell division. The influx rate of 86Rb into B-deficient cells was 79% of the control rate after 5-5.5 h culture. Despite lowered 86Rb influx, B-deficient diatoms accumulated more 86Rb than did control cells; this was due to the deficient cells'' lower efflux rate. After 24 h culture, B-deficient cells had accumulated 30% more 86Rb than had control cells, while releasing 86Rb at only 1/2 the control rate. Increased photosynthetic rates were another effect of B deficiency during this early stage of culture. Prior to 20 h B-deficient culture, diatoms had photosynthetic rates 37% greater than those of control cells. Corresponding to the increase in photosynthesis, B-deficient diatoms had 12% more carbohydrate than control cells after 16 h culture.

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