Mahiko Abe

Temperature requirements for seed germination and seedling growth of Zostera marina from central Japan

The optimal water temperature in seed germination and the upper critical water temperature in seedling growth were determined for Zostera marina collected from Ise Bay, Japan. The relationship between the seed germination rates and seed storage period (0, 30 and 60 days at 0°C) was also examined. The optimal water temperature for seed germination was in the range from 10 to 15°C regardless of the storage periods, in which germination rates ranged from 35 to 57%. Seedlings grown from seed up to 10 cm in total length were cultured for 1 week under various water temperatures to measure their relative growth rates. The optimal water temperature in growth was in the range from 20 to 25°C; relative growth rates ranged from 2.0 to 2.6%. Seedlings could survive up to a water temperature of 28°C, but most seedlings withered at 29 or 30°C. The optimal water temperatures for seed germination and seedling growth were related to the seasonal changes of water temperature at the sampling site. Although seedlings were rarely observed in the field in summer, they can grow at temperatures as high as 28°C. Therefore, Z. marina may extend its distribution as far as where the summer water temperature is lower than 28°C.

Polaribacter porphyrae sp. nov., isolated from the red alga Porphyra yezoensis, and emended descriptions of the genus Polaribacter and two Polaribacter species

Three Gram-negative, non-motile, strictly aerobic strains, designated LNM-20(T), LCM-1 and LAM-13, were isolated from thalli of the marine red alga Porphyra yezoensis. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the isolates were associated with the genus Polaribacter in the family Flavobacteriaceae and were most closely related to Polaribacter dokdonensis DSW-5(T) (96.2 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Polaribacter gangjinensis K17-16(T) (95.0 %). The DNA G+C content of the isolates was 28.6-29.2 mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization analysis showed that the isolates belonged to a single species distinct from both of their closest relatives. The only isoprenoid quinone detected was menaquinone-6. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified lipids. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1ω10c and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH. The phenotypic features of strain LNM-20(T) differed from those of their closest relatives in several regards (colony colour, growth with 1 % NaCl and on TSA plus 2.5 % NaCl, hydrolysis of Tweens 40 and 80, and oxidization of five carbon compounds). On the basis of phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic analysis, the isolates represent a novel species in the genus Polaribacter, for which the name Polaribacter porphyrae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LNM-20(T) ( = LMG 26671(T)  = NBRC 108759(T)). Emended descriptions of the genus Polaribacter and P. dokdonensis and P. gangjinensis are also proposed.

Algimonas porphyrae gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Hyphomonadaceae, isolated from the red alga Porphyra yezoensis.

Three Gram-negative, stalked, motile bacteria, designated 0C-2-2(T), 0C-17 and LNM-3, were isolated from the red alga Porphyra yezoensis. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the three novel strains belonged to the family Hyphomonadaceae, and were closely related to Litorimonas taeanensis G5(T) (96.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Hellea balneolensis 26III/A02/215(T) (94.3 %). The DNA G+C contents of the novel isolates (58.5-60.2 mol%) were clearly distinguished from those of L. taeanensis G5(T) (47.1 mol%) and H. balneolensis DSM 19091(T) (47.9 mol%). The G+C content of L. taeanensis G5(T) obtained in this study was quite different from a previous report (63.6 mol%). DNA-DNA hybridization experiments showed that the novel strains constituted a single species. Eleven phenotypic features of the three isolates differed from those of both related genera. The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 and the major fatty acid was C(18 : 1)ω7c. On the basis of this polyphasic taxonomic analysis, the novel strains represent a novel genus and species, for which the name Algimonas porphyrae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Algimonas porphyrae is 0C-2-2(T) (= LMG 26424(T) = NBRC 108216(T)).

High water-temperature tolerance in photosynthetic activity of Zostera marina seedlings from Ise Bay, Mie Prefecture, central Japan

Photosynthetic activities of seedlings of Zostera marina were successively measured using a gas volumeter for 6 days at seven light (0–400 μmol photons/m2 per s) and 11 water temperature conditions (5–35°C). The seedlings were collected from mature plants (Ise Bay, central Japan), and stored and cultured in incubators accurately controlled at each test temperature. The maximum gross photosynthesis (Pmaxg) was recorded at an optimal water temperature of 29°C after 0 days. After 6 days, Pmaxg appeared at 25°C and most plants cultured at 29–30°C bleached and withered after the drastic increase of light compensation point (Ic). On the contrary, at 5–28°C, the photosynthetic activities either changed little (5–25°C) or recovered after a temporal reduction (26–28°C); seedlings survived and looked healthy after being cultured for 6 days. The recovery was thought to be an acclimation to tolerate higher water temperature. As a result, the critical upper water temperature for Z. marina seedlings was proposed as 28°C. The temperature was consistent with the previously reported maximum water temperature in habitats around the southern boundary of Z. marina in the northern hemisphere.

Sulfitobacter porphyrae sp. nov., isolated from the red alga Porphyra yezoensis.

Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, halophilic bacteria, designated SCM-1(T), LCM10-1 and CTBL-B-147, were isolated from modified half-strength SWM-III medium, PES medium and thalli after laboratory cultivation of a red alga, Porphyra yezoensis. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the new isolates were affiliated to the genus Sulfitobacter of the class Alphaproteobacteria, and the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of the new isolates with the closest related species, Sulfitobacter mediterraneus CH-B427(T), was 98.8%. The DNA G+C contents of the new isolates were in the range of 61.4-62.3 mol%. DNA-DNA relatedness values of strain SCM-1(T) with other type strains of the genus Sulfitobacter were less than 15.9%. The new isolates contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified amino lipid and an unidentified lipid as the main polar lipids, and C(18 : 1)ω7c, C(19 : 1)ω7c and C(16 : 0) as the major fatty acids (>10% of the total). Strain SCM-1(T) could be differentiated from Sulfitobacter mediterraneus JCM 21792(T) by 35 morphological and phenotypic characteristics. On the basis of the phylogenetic, genetic and phenotypic properties of the new isolates, the name Sulfitobacter porphyrae sp. nov. is proposed, with strain SCM-1(T) ( = LMG 27110(T) = NBRC 109054(T)) as the type strain.

Relationship between distribution patterns of shoots and light conditions on population floor in Zostera marina population

This study was designed to identify a sustainable Zostera marina population based on the relationships between the distributional patterns of shoots and light conditions in the population. Population structures and light conditions on 22 April 2003 (season of reducing shoot density), 27 September 2003 (season of the annual minimum density and biomass) and 9 April 2004 (season of the annual maximum density and biomass) were examined. On 22 April 2003, the frequency distribution in shoot length was almost even. The spatial pattern is characterized by small clumps within 2–5 cm radius. On 27 September 2003, the lengths of all shoots were less than 40 cm, and the distributional patterns were similar to 22 April. On 9 April 2004, the spatial pattern is characterized by larger clumps within 25 cm radius. The reproductive shoots had a regular distribution. The relative light intensities on the population floor of the sea surface on 27 September and 9 April were 53.3 and 10.2%, respectively. The light intensity on 9 April 2004 was not sufficient for growth. The results suggest that the competition for harvesting solar radiation is caused by the shoot length and the spatial pattern among shoots in the population.