Antarctic benthic diatoms after 10 months of dark exposure: consequences for photosynthesis and cellular integrity.

ABSTRACT: Antarctic algae are exposed to prolonged periods of extreme darkness due to polar night, and coverage by ice and snow can extend such dark conditions to up to 10 months. A major group of microalgae in benthic habitats of Antarctica are diatoms, which are key primary producers in these regions. However, the effects of extremely prolonged dark exposure on their photosynthesis, cellular ultrastructure, and cell integrity remain unknown. Here we show that five strains of Antarctic benthic diatoms exhibit an active photosynthetic apparatus despite 10 months of dark-exposure. This was shown by a steady effective quantum yield of photosystem II (Y[II]) upon light exposure for up to 2.5 months, suggesting that Antarctic diatoms do not rely on metabolically inactive resting cells to survive prolong

SUBMITTER: Handy J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10995292 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature