Abstract

The red macroalgae Hydropuntia cornea, Gracilariopsis longissima and Halopithys incurva were cultured for 14 d under laboratory conditions, in enriched seawater with a high nutrient content (N-NH4+ and P-PO43-) and two radiation regimes: PAR (400-700 nm) and PAB (280-700 nm). The UV radiation effects under high availability of nutrients on growth, photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, carotenoids and phycobiliproteins), photosynthetic activity and biochemical composition were studied. Maximum quantum yield (F-v/F-m) was not significantly different among the PAR and PAB treatments during the experiment. However, the maximum electronic transport rate (ETRmax) increased over time, showing the highest values in PAR for H. incurva and H. cornea, whereas for G. longissima it was found in PAB. Photosynthetic efficiency (alpha(ETR)) decreased over time in the first two species, but increased in G. longissima. Saturation irradiance (Ek(ETR)) and maximum nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ(max)) increased in PAB with time up to 80% and 30%, respectively, indicating a photosynthetic acclimatization like that of sun-type algae. Five MAAs were identified in all species using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The total content of MAAs increased over time, being 30% higher in H. incurva, 40% in G. longissima and 50% in H. cornea in PAB than in the PAR treatment. Finally, the antioxidant activity was also higher in the PAB treatment. All of the species presented an effective mechanism of photoprotection based on the accumulation of photoprotective compounds with antioxidant activity, as well as a high dissipation of excitation energy (high NPQ(max)).