Cadmium is one of the most dangerous environmental pollutants, affecting, among other things, plant mineral composition. It easily interacts with iron, one of the most important elements for plant growth and metabolism. This interaction, including modifying effects of lowered or excessive Fe supply on Cd-exposed plants and its consequences for the photosynthetic apparatus is reviewed. The influence of modified Fe and Cd supply on the uptake of both metals, their distribution, plant growth, and photosynthesis is also explained. Moderate Fe excess has a beneficial influence on Cd-treated plants, resulting in more intensive growth, photosynthetic pigments accumulation, and more efficient light phase of photosynthesis. Nutrient-medium Fe deficiency increases plant susceptibility to Cd. The main open questions of Cd/Fe interaction are: (1) the strong Fe-dependency of Cd mobility within the plant, and (2) photosynthetic dark phase adaptation to Cd stress. and A. Siedlecka, Z. Krupa.
Chlorophyliase (Chlase) is widely distributed in higher and lower plants and differs in activity. It occurs in various organs. In some plants the enzyme is synthesized in cytoplasm, in others in chloroplasts. Various Chlase forms are known. Participation, in the chlorophyll (Chl) degrading systém belongs to the main fimctions of Chlase. Moreover, it may catalyse Chl biosynthesis and takés part in photosynthesis. The Chlase activity is stimulated by radiant energy, sublethal freezing, heavy metals (Hg, Zn, Cu), Fe and Mn deficiency, and mosaic virus infection. The effect of water content on Chlase activity depends on individual plant organs. Osmotic and saline- osmotic stress decreases Chlase activity, but NaCl can stimulate the activity. The influence of plant age depends on plant genus. Some growth regulators (ethylene, heteroauxin, abscisic acid) increase Chlase activity, others (kinetin, dicarboxylic monoesters, gibberellic acid, gibbérellin A3) inhibit it. The mechanisms of Chlase action are also reviewed.
Ecosystem photosynthetic characteristics are of utmost importance for the estimation of regional carbon budget, but such characteristics are not well understood in alpine regions. We collected CO2 flux data measured by eddy covariance technique over an alpine dwarf shrubland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau during years 2003-2010; and we quantified the temporal patterns of ecosystem apparent quantum yield (a), saturated photosynthetic rate (Pmax), and ecosystem dark respiration (RDe). Results showed that the strong seasonality of a and RDe was driven mainly by air temperature (Ta), whereas that of Pmax was much more determined by leaf area index rather than abiotic factors. Diurnal thermal fluctuation inhibited significantly the daytime photosynthetic capacity. Stepwise regression revealed that the seasonal deviations of a, Pmax, and RDe were significantly controlled by Ta. The annual a was regulated mainly by annual growing season Ta, which indicated that the response of ecosystem a was instant. The annual variations of Pmax correlated positively with soil temperature 5 cm below ground (Ts) of the annual nongrowing season and those of RDe related negatively with the annual nongrowing season precipitation. We suggested that a lagged response regulated the annual Pmax and the annual RDe. Annual deviations of a and RDe were both significantly controlled by annual Ts, and those of Pmax were marginally determined by annual PPFD. Thus, the future warming scenario, especially significant for nongrowing seasonal warming in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, would favor ecosystem photosynthetic capacity in the alpine dwarf shrubland., H. Q. Li, F. W. Zhang, Y. N. LI, G. M. Cao, L. Zhao, X. Q. Zhao., and Obsahuje bibliografii