Sl. Morton et al., ENVIRONMENTAL-EFFECTS ON THE PRODUCTION OF OKADAIC ACID FROM PROROCENTRUM-HOFFMANNIANUM FAUST .1. TEMPERATURE, LIGHT, AND SALINITY, Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology, 178(1), 1994, pp. 67-77
Clonal cultures of Prorocentrum hoffmannianum Faust (clone 882a) were
grown under various temperatures, light intensities, and salinities to
examine changes in growth rates and okadaic acid content. The acclima
ted tolerance range for growth was between 21-degrees-C and 36-degrees
-C. With regard to light intensity, acclimated growth was possible bet
ween 2000 and 5000 Ix. Growth rate was optimal at 27-degrees-C under 5
000 lx (k = 0.53 division . day-1). Acclimated growth rate was maximum
at a salinity of 34 parts-per-thousand. Okadaic acid content changed
drastically with regard to temperature and light. No trends were obser
ved between reproduction rates and okadaic acid production. Optimum ok
adaic acid production (58.6 pg cell-1) was achieved at 24-degrees-C un
der 2000 lx. A second peak in okadaic acid production (45 pg . cell-1)
was observed at 29-degrees-C under 4000 Ix. Unlike temperature and li
ght, salinity results showed an inverse trend between okadaic acid con
tent and growth rate. These results suggest an increased okadaic acid
content with increased environmental stress.