Pigment composition and light requirement of tropical nanoplankters <i>Chromulina freiburgensis</i> Doflein and <i>Isochrysis galbana</i> Parke

Abstract

<i>Chromulina freiburgensis</i> and <i>I. galbana</i>, isolated from inshore waters of Cochin have pigment spectrum comprising chlorophyll <i>a</i> and <i>c</i>, β-carotene, fucoxanthin and an unidentified yellow fraction. The rate of photosynthesis of these flagellates increases with light intensity reaching a maximum at 34-35 x 10¹⁵ quanta cm^-2 sec^-1. The onset of saturation of photosynthesis (I_k) is at 24 x 10¹⁵ quanta cm^-2sec^-1.