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Light-Dependency of Growth and Secondary Metabolite Production in the Captive Zooxanthellate Soft Coral Sinularia flexibilis

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Abstract

The branching zooxanthellate soft coral Sinularia flexibillis releases antimicrobial and toxic compounds with potential pharmaceutical importance. As photosynthesis by the symbiotic algae is vital to the host, the light-dependency of the coral, including its specific growth rate (μ day−1) and the physiological response to a range of light intensities (10–1,000 μmol quanta m−2 s−1) was studied for 12 weeks. Although a range of irradiances from 100 to 400 μmol quanta m−2 s−1 was favorable for S. flexibilis, based on chlorophyll content, a light intensity around 100 μmol quanta m−2 s−1 was found to be optimal. The contents of both zooxanthellae and chlorophyll a were highest at 100 μmol quanta m−2 s−1. The specific budding rate showed almost the same pattern as the specific growth rate. The concentration of the terpene flexibilide, produced by this species, increased at high light intensities (200–600 μmol quanta m−2 s−1).

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Acknowledgments

The grant of the I.R. of Iran’s government to support this project is gratefully acknowledged. The kind provision of standards of secondary metabolites of S. flexibilis by Prof. Bruce Bowden, Queensland Univ., Australia deserves great appreciation. We are also highly grateful to the Burgers’ Zoo for providing the corals and also to Fred van den End for preparing the aquaria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Food and Bioprocess Engineering Group, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Mohammad K. Khalesi, H. H. Beeftink & R. H. Wijffels

  2. Department of Animal Sciences & Fisheries, University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, P.O. Box 578, Sari, Iran

    Mohammad K. Khalesi

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  1. Mohammad K. Khalesi
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  2. H. H. Beeftink
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  3. R. H. Wijffels
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Correspondence to Mohammad K. Khalesi.

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Khalesi, M.K., Beeftink, H.H. & Wijffels, R.H. Light-Dependency of Growth and Secondary Metabolite Production in the Captive Zooxanthellate Soft Coral Sinularia flexibilis . Mar Biotechnol 11, 488–494 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10126-008-9164-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10126-008-9164-z

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