Photosynthesis in Several Marine Plants of Japan as Affected by Salinity, Drying and pH, with Attention to their Growth Habitats

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Abstract
Photosynthesis in Porphyra tenera, Ulva pertusa, Gelidium amansii, and Zostera nana was examined by manometric techniques in relation to salinity (osmotic condition), pH, and drying of the plant bodies. Deviation of these factors from those prevailing under natural conditions more or less depressed the photosynthesis, its rate sometimes falling down to zero. Porphyra and Ulva appeared to be more resistant to increased salinity and drying than Gelidium and Zostera. The latter 2, however, appeared to be somewhat less sensitive to the damaging effect of hydrogen ions. Gelidium was most sensitive to the effect of hydroxyl ions. Artificially conditioned media and buffer mixtures with CO2-enriched air were employed to separate the influences of these factors, which are rather inseparably associated with each other under natural conditions. Salinity and pH changes affected the plants by their direct effect on the protoplasm and by changing the equilibrium in the CO2 -supply system of the surrounding medium.

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