Effects of environmental parameters on net photosynthesis of a free-living brown seaweed,Cystoseira barbata formarepens: determination of optimal photosynthetic culture conditions

The net photosynthesis of the Mediterranean brown seaweedCystoseira barbata f.repens is measured according to irradiance, temperature and salinity. There is not only, a good utilization of low light intensities (light-shade adaptation), but also a specific ability to use a broad range of irradiance, which corresponds in the photosynthesis-irradiance curves to a high initial slope and an extended light saturation level from 300 to 1500 μmol photon m−2 s−1; only very high irradiances induce photoinhibition. Maximum net photosynthesis occurred at temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 30 °C. The alga tolerates not only a low level of salinity, but also a slight increase in salinity; however, at more than 47.5 g 1−1 NaCl, oxygen exchange is significantly reduced.