EFFECT OF SOME ORGANIC CARBON SOURCES ON THE DARK CALCIFICATION OF THE FRESHWATER GREEN ALGA GLOEOTAENIUM

Abstract

The effect of glucose, acetate or succinate on the dark calcification of Gloeotaenium, a freshwater green alga, was studied. Under normal conditions calcification does not occur in this alga in darkness but addition of acetate or succinate induced calcification whereas glucose failed to do so. The induction of calcification by acetate was inhibited by dinitrophenol and that by succinate was inhibited by malonate. It is concluded that no separate light‐dependent mechanism of calcification exists in Gloeotaenium and that oxidative phosphorylation may be supplying, at least partly, the energy required for calcification. Copyright © 1981, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved