ELEVATED PRODUCTION OF DIMETHYLSULFIDE RESULTING FROM VIRAL-INFECTIONOF CULTURES OF PHAEOCYSTIS-POUCHETII

The effects of viral lysis on dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and particulate a nd dissolved dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) concentrations were stu died in batch cultures of Phaeocystis pouchetii infected with a strain -specific viral isolate. After 20 h, DMS concentration had increased b y fourfold over the levels observed in the control cultures, and this increased to eightfold 45 h after addition of viral particles. The res ults suggest that viral lysis of DMSP-containing phytoplankton cells s hould be considered alongside autolysis, grazing, and bacterial activi ty as a process that can influence DMS concentrations in seawater. Fur ther research will be necessary to determine the importance of viruses in the biogeochemical DMS cycle in the natural environment.