Screening of growth phases of Antarctic algae and cyanobacteria cultivated on agar plates by chlorophyll fluorescence imaging

Recently, chlorophyll fluorescence imaging is frequently used non-invasive method to monitor the metabolic state and photosynthetic activities of vascular plants and other autotrophic organisms. In our study, we used the measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics to follow the development of culture of Antarctic algae (Macrochloris rubrioleum, Zygnema sp.) and cyanobacteria (Hassalia antarctica, Nostoc commune). On the cultures grown on agar plates, Bold´s Basal Medium (BBM), slow Kautsky kinetics supplemented with saturation pulses were measured repeatedly in a week interval. On the kinetics, typical points (OPSMT) were distinguished and species-specific and time of cultivation-dependent differences in shape of the OPSMT kinetics evaluated. We tested sensitivity of various chlorophyll fluorescence parameters to cultivation time on agar plates. In the algae, the most pronounced changes were the decrease in maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (FV/FM) and quenching of basal chlorophyll fluorescence qF0 (M. rubrioleum, Zygnema sp.). In cyanobacteria, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters did not show clear trends with the time of cultivation. F0 quenching (qF0) reached positive values in H. antarctica, while it was negative in N. commune. In both cases, however, qF0 showed an increase with cultivation time. The differences are discussed as well as the potential of the emerging area of the application of chlorophyll fluorescence imaging for evaluation of photosynthetic performance of algal/cyanobacterial cultures on agar plates.