Physiological comparison between gametophytes and tetrasporophytes of Gelidium canariensis (Gelidiaceae: Rhodophyta)

Abstract

The physiological performances of tetrasporophytes and gametophytes of Gelidium canariensis (Grunow) Seoane-Camba were compared to estimate whether the field predominance of tetrasporophytes is due to lower fitness of gametophytes. No significant differences between tetrasporophytes and gametophytes were detected for calorific content, protein and pigment concentrations, NADH-Diaphorase, alkaline phosphatase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities and photosynthesis and respiration at 15, 20 and 25 °C, and pH 6.5, 8.2 and 9.2. Our results indicate that these physiological characteristics are not responsible for the scarcity of gametophytes in the field populations of G. canariensis.