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This study quantified the spatial variation of endophyte infections in wild populations of commercially important Chondrus ocellatus in Korea. We examined the variation of infection across four locations, two tidal heights and life-history stage (gametophyte vs tetrasporophyte). One hundred and fifty fronds were collected from the upper and lower C. ocellatus zones and microscopic examinations were conducted to determine their infection symptoms. Our results showed that the percentage of C. ocellatus populations infected by endophytic algae were very high, ranging from 58 to 99%, in all populations examined. Endophyte infection severity of Hakampo and Manripo populations was significantly greater in the lower Chondrus zones but it was significantly higher in the upper zone of Jungdori population. Tetrasporophytic fronds were more susceptible to infection by endophytic algae than gametophytic fronds. Also, the infection symptoms were more severe in the middle and basal parts of the fronds than in the apical parts. The findings of this study are very informative data for the endophyte abundance in the field population of commercial C. ocellatus.

We evaluated the effects of red and blue light on the repair of UV-B radiation-induced damage in tetraspores of Chondrus ocellatus Holm. Tetraspores of C. ocellatus were treated with different UV-B radiation levels (0, 36, 72, 108, 144 and 180 J/m2), and thereafter subjected to PAR, darkness, or red or blue light during a 2-h repair stage, each day for 48 days. The diameters and cellular contents of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimmers (CPDs), chlorophyll a (Chl a), phycoerythrin, and UV-B-absorbing mycosporinelike amino acids (MAAs) contents of the tetraspores were determined. Our results show that low doses of UV-B radiation (36 and 72 J/m2) promoted the growth of C. ocellatus; however, increased UV-B radiation gradually reduced the C. ocellatus growth (greater than 72 J/m2). The MAAs (palythine and asterina-330) in C. ocellatus were detected and analyzed by LC/MS. Our results suggest that moderate red light could induce the growth of this alga in aquaculture. In addition, photorepair was inhibited by red light, so there may be some other DNA repair mechanism activated by red light. Blue light promoted the activity of DNA photolyase, greatly improving remediation efficiency. Red and blue lights were found to reduce the capacity of C. ocellatus to form MAAs. Therefore, PAR, red light, and blue light play different roles during the repair processes for damage induced by UV-B radiation.

The effects of exposure to UV-B radiation, 280–315 nm, and dark or dark repair conditions on the early development of Chondrus ocellatus Holm collected from Qingdao coast were studied under the laboratory condition. After being exposed to different doses [0, 36, 72, 108, 144 and 180 J/(m2·d)] of UV-B radiation, one treatment of tetraspores were put back to normal culture condition (PAR), the other treatment were put into dark condition to repair for 2 h. During the cultivation, the diameter of the tetraspores were recorded every 4 d till the 50th day when vertical branches formed in all treatments. Then at the 50th day, CPDs, phycoerythrin, chlorophyll a and MAAs (Palythine and asterina-330) were measured. The results showed that low doses UV-B radiation could significantly accelerate the growth rate of the tetraspores of C. ocellatus and the growth rate reduced gradually with UV-B radiation keep on increasing. The variation trend of both the phycoerythrin and chlorophyll a concentration reduced significantly (P < 0.05) once given the UVB radiation. Under UV-B stress, the CPDs were induced, and the concentrations of CPDs were significant low in dark repair groups. The data of MAAs analyzed by LC/MS in the tetraspores of C. ocellatus suggested that there were two MAAs formed (palythine and asterina-330) after UV-B radiation induced, and low dose of UV-B irradiation could significantly induced the concentration of MAAs. From the growth and development state of the tetraspores, negative effects of UV-B radiation on the dark repair groups were more serious than PAR.

The reproductive phenology of Chondrus ocellatus and the effects of temperature and light on its growth were examined in Cheongsapo near Busan, Korea, from September 1994 to August 1995. The vegetative plants dominated over the year, with a peak occurrence in January. Gameto- and tetrasporophytes were most abundant in November and August. All vegetative and reproductive plants had a peak both in length and weight in October, when seawater temperature was highest (24°C). In laboratory culture, the maximum relative growth rate (RGR) of 2.94% day−1 was obtained at 20°C and 100 μmol photons m−2 s−1, whereas the lowest value was recorded at 25°C and 100 μmol photons m−2 s−1 in a 12: 12 h LD photoperiod regime. Among the three photoperiod regimes (8:16 h, 12:12 h, 16:8 h LD) tested, there was evidence of a higher RGR in the 12:12 h LD cycle. This result suggests that the growth and reproduction of C. ocellatus are correlated with the seawater temperature based on laboratory culture and field observations.