Effect of Ultra Violet Radiation on Pigments Profile of Seaweeds Gracillaria Edulis and Hypnea Musciformis

P. Iyapparaj*, G. Immanuel, R. Ramasubburayan, P. Esakkiraj, Sankaralingam, M. Navin Chandran and A. Palavesam    

Centre for Marine Science and Technology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Rajakkamangalam - 629 502 (India).

ABSTRACT: Effect of different wavebands of ultraviolet radiation (UV–A and UV–B) on pigments profile of south Indian macroalgae Gracillaria edulis and Hypnea musciformis was assessed under invitro conditions. In general, the Chlorophyll – a (Chl a) was higher than the Chlorophyll – b (Chl b) content in the candidate seaweeds. The long wavelength UV–A progressively increased Chl a, Chl b and total chlorophyll content correspond to the increase in exposure duration in both the seaweeds. But the short wavelength UV–B considerably reduced the chlorophyll pigments. The total carotenoid content of the selected seaweed species exposed to UV–A and UV–B irradiation was found to be increased notably as a measure of photo protective function to guard the photosynthetic apparatus from damage and to resist the photo oxidation.

KEYWORDS: UV-A; UV–B; Chlorophyll; Carotenoid; Macroalgae;

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