Release of Glycollate from Tropical Marine Plants

Abstract

Release of glycollate under conditions of high illumination and high oxygen concentration from tropical seaweeds representing the groups Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta, and from two marine angiosperms, has been demonstrated. The amount released is increased by the presence of alumina as an adsorbent. Quantitative determination is rendered difficult by the simultaneous release of a substance(s), also adsorbed on alumina, which interferes in the colorimetric analysis for glycollate. The concentration of glycollate in surface water in the Coral Sea was determined on two occasions as 0.015 mg I^-1.