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Physiological and biochemical responses of green microalgae from different habitats to osmotic and matric stress

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Abstract

Growth of five aeroterrestrial green algal strains (Trebouxiophyceae) in response to changing water availabilities—caused by osmotic (ionic) and matric (desiccation) stresses—was investigated in comparison with a freshwater and a marine strain. All investigated algae displayed good growth under brackish conditions while four out of the five aeroterrestrial strains even grew well under full marine conditions (28–40 psu). The comparison between growth responses in liquid medium, on solid agarose, and on glass fiber filters at 100% air humidity indicated a broad growth tolerance of aeroterrestrial algae towards diminished water availability. While two aeroterrestrial strains even grew better on solid medium which mimics natural biofilm conditions, the aquatic strains showed significant growth inhibition under matric stress. Except Stichococcus sp., which contained the C6-polyol sorbitol, all other aeroterrestrial green algae investigated synthesized and accumulated the C5-polyol ribitol in response to osmotic stress. Using 13C NMR spectroscopy and HPLC, it could be verified that ribitol functions as an osmotically regulated organic solute. This is the first proof of ribitol in free-living aeroterrestrial green algae. The biochemical capability to synthesize polyols under environmental stress conditions seems to support algal life outside aquatic habitats.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Christiane Volkmann for technical support, as well as Prof. Thomas Friedl, University of Göttingen and Dr. Thomas Pröschold, Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Oban for providing taxonomical information on the strains studied. Images b and d of Fig. 1 is in courtesy of C. Mudimu, Kiel. We gratefully appreciate financial support through the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG KA 899/13-1/2 and DFG EG 151/1-2).

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Applied Ecology, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Straße 3, 18051, Rostock, Germany

    Lydia Gustavs, Anja Eggert & Ulf Karsten

  2. Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Straße 29a, 18059, Rostock, Germany

    Dirk Michalik

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  1. Lydia Gustavs
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  2. Anja Eggert
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Correspondence to Lydia Gustavs.

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Dedicated to Professor Cornelius Lütz on the occasion of his 65th birthday

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Gustavs, L., Eggert, A., Michalik, D. et al. Physiological and biochemical responses of green microalgae from different habitats to osmotic and matric stress. Protoplasma 243, 3–14 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-009-0060-9

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