Effect of kinetin on metabolic activities in marine alga Gelidiella acerosa (Rhodophyta)

Abstract

The effect of exogenous application of kinetin in the range of 10(-9) M to 10(-4) M on Gelidiella acerosa was studied in unialgal culture conditions. Kinetin treatment (10(-7) M) increased biomass production, pigments (chlorophyll a and phycoerythrin); macromolecular contents (proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and total carbohydrates); rate of photosynthesis and respiration; nitrate and phosphate uptake; the activity of enzymes viz. Fructose-1, 6-Diphosphatase (FDPase), Fructose-1, 6-Diphosphate aldolase (FDP aldolase) acid and alkaline phosphatase and in vivo nitrate reductase. Kinetin treatment resulted in an overall enhancement of the metabolic activities.