Physiological responses of enteromorpha intestinalis [L.] link and caulerpa prolifera [foresk] lamour. to salinity changes differences in osmoacclimation

ABSTRACT

The effect of hypo-and hyper saline treatments ranging from 15-45% on the tissue water content and the concentrations of some intracellular organic [soluble-carbohydrates, reducing sugars, total and individual free aminoacids, free proline, choline and glyane betaine] and inorganic [Na[+], K[[+]]C1 [+] and Ca[++]] solutes were determined in the marine algae. Enteromorpha intestinalis and Caulerpa prolifera. The differences in osmoacclimation algase were investigated. In both organisms, the tissue water content decreased lineary with the increase of salinity. Except for choline, the concentrations of all other organic and inorganic osmolytes determined were higher in E.intestinalis than in C. prolifera under the same salinity conditions. The contents of free proline, choline, glycine betaine, Na[+], K[+]and C1 [-] increased lineary in both algae with the increase of salinity. Other osmolytes exhibited the same trend under hyperosmotic conditions