Abstract:
Scenedesmus armatus was tested for its high-CO
2-tolerant mechanism. It can thrive at 60% CO
2 under control. The average growth rates were 1.228, 0.925, 0.741, 0.305, 0.042 and 0.001 g·L
-1 ·d
-1 DW at 5%,20%,40%,60%,80%,100% CO
2 conditions respectively, of which the 20% CO
2 is most applicable while 5% is most optimum. The maximum quantum efficiency of photosystemⅡ (PSⅡ) primary photochemistry, given by F
v/F
m=(F
m-F
0)/F
m, decreased distinctly in the first 24hrs indicating photoinhibition in PSⅡ, then gradually recovered to the normal levels. The microstructure and ultrastructure of cells growing under air and 20% CO
2 indicate some morphological adaptation changes: the chloroplast were not integrated as usual, in which the pyenoids are missing or seldom seen after cultured with high CO
2, besides the sizes of the cells and the number of intracellular vacuoles were larger for the cells grown in 20% CO
2 for 6 days than for those in air for the same period. These physiological and structural changes may help us to find the way in which algae adapting to the extreme-high-CO
2-stress.