Effects of multiple abiotic stresses on gene expression in Saccharina latissima (Phaeophyceae)

Abstract

Kelps, brown algae of the order Laminariales, dominate rocky shores of cold-temperate regions. The distribution of kelps is constrained by abiotic factors like light including UV radiation and temperature. Future global environmental changes could therefore have a potentially significant impact on geographic distribution patterns, vertical zonation, and primary productivity of kelp. This thesis represents the first large-scale transcriptomic study of acclimation to abiotic stress in a kelp species, and aims on investigating molecular mechanisms underlying physiological acclimation to multiple abiotic stresses in Saccharina latissima from the Arctic (Spitsbergen). This work presents an initial idea on the complexity of molecular acclimation to abiotic stress in Saccharina latissima. The molecular data obtained by this study improve our understanding on stress response in a kelp species and provide a useful platform for future research regarding molecular approaches in kelp.