The effect of ultraviolet B radiation (UV-B) on cellular ultrastructure, chlorophyll (Chl), carotenoids, and total phenolics of Acrostichum danaeifolium gametophytes was analyzed. The control group of spores was germinated under standard conditions, while the test group of spores was germinated with additional UV-B for 30 min every day for 34 d. The cell characteristics were preserved in gametophytes irradiated with UV-B, but the number of starch grains increased in the chloroplasts and the more developed grana organization in contrast to the chloroplasts of the control group. Chl a content decreased, while Chl b content increased in the gametophytes cultivated with UV-B for 34 d. Contents of lutein and zeaxanthin decreased and trans-β-carotene concentration was enhanced in the gametophytes irradiated with UV-B. The content of total phenolic compounds increased in the gametophytes cultivated with UV-B. Therefore our data suggest that the gametophytes of A. danaeifolium, a fern endemic to the mangrove biome, were sensitive to enhancement of UV-B radiation at the beginning of their development and they exhibited alterations in their ultrastructure, pigment contents, and protective mechanisms of the photosynthetic apparatus, when exposed to this radiation., A. M. Randi, M. C. A. Freitas, A. C. Rodrigues, M. Maraschin, M. A. Torres., and Obsahuje bibliografii
During batch culture of Haslea ostrearia the highest carbon (14C) fixation rate was found in vivo in cells that did not accumulate the blue pigment marennine (green form). This fixation rate decreased concomitantly with the accumulation of marennine. In vitro, no phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) activity was detected, but nearly equivalent activities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPC) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) were found in the green form. However, the activity of RuBPC was lower than that of PEPCK during marennine accumulation. In vitro carboxylase activities were strongly inhibited by the addition of a marennine extract. A full description of this inhibition could not be confirmed within the cells because marennine accumulates in small cytoplasmic vesicles. and G. Tremblin, J.-M. Robert.
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.
Chloroplasts are commonly the site of the earliest abiotic injury visible in plant ultrastructure. In this study, six inbred lines of maize (Zea mays L.) were used to analyze changes in the ultrastructure of chloroplasts and related physiological parameters under conditions of drought stress simulated by 20% polyethylene glycol 6000 (-0.6 MPa) for two days. Chloroplasts of three maize lines proved to be more sensitive. They showed changes in the ultrastructure in response to drought, including damage of thylakoid membranes, an increase in the number and size of plastoglobuli, swelling of thylakoid membranes both stromal and granal, disorganization of the thylakoid membrane system, an obvious increase in the intrathylakoid space, and a decrease in the
length-to-width ratio and area of chloroplasts. In addition, the contents of malondialdehyde increased markedly in the sensitive lines. Contrary to the sensitive lines, stable structures and shapes of chloroplasts were observed in the drought-resistant lines; it could be considered as an advantage contributing to drought tolerance in the plants. In addition, the drought index of leaf fresh mass (LMDI) in the drought-sensitive lines was ≤ 0.5, which was also associated with a lower content of leaf chlorophyll. In contrast, drought tolerance coincided with lesser growth reduction, and higher LMDI and leaf chlorophyll content., R. X. Shao, L. F. Xin, H. F. Zheng, L. L. Li, W. L. Ran, J. Mao, Q. H. Yang., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Competition plays an important role in the replacement of native species by alien plants. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate whether the competition pattern of alien Robinia pseudoacacia L. and native Quercus acutissima Carr. is affected by soil sterilization. Physiological traits, such as gas-exchange parameters and chlorophyll (Chl) content, and growth traits, such as the biomass accumulation of the two species, were examined in natural soil or in soil sterilized with benomyl. The results show that native Q. acutissima inhibits the growth of R. pseudoacacia in natural soil. When the two plants coexisted and competed under sterilization treatment, R. pseudoacacia was less inhibited by Q. acutissima and the competition of R. pseudoacacia decreased the growth of Q. acutissima in terms of biomass, Chl a, Chl b, total Chl, and Chl a/b. These results suggest that soil sterilization benefits the growth of R. pseudoacacia and changes the competition pattern by the changed soil biota. Soil sterilization increased the biomass of root nodules, which ultimately benefits the growth of R. pseudoacacia and root nodule bacteria may be important in the dispersal and invasion process of nitrogen-fixing alien plants such as R. pseudoacacia., H. Chen ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii
We compared delayed fluorescence (DF) excitation spectrometry with radiocarbon (14C) technique using a monoalgal culture of Chlorella vulgaris grown under natural temperature and irradiance. This was done by monitoring the DF, in parallel to quantum efficiency (QE) and index of radiant energy utilization efficiency (Ψ) as calculated on the basis of carbon uptake measurements by radiocarbon technique. During the diurnal cycle, temperature, irradiance, and chlorophyll (Chl) contents were monitored in the algal culture that was kept in an open transparent plastic tank submerged at the surface of Lake Kinneret, Israel. The DF signal correlated with both the QE (r 2 = 0.869, p<0.01) and Ψ (r 2 = 0.977, p<0.01) during a diurnal cycle. We suggest that, besides the measurement of active Chl and phytoplankton population composition, the DF signal provides additional information on the QE and Ψ in phytoplankton population. and E. Kurzbaum, W. Eckert, Y. Z. Yacobi.
The present study was conducted to study the effect of 24-epibrassinolide (EBL) on changes of plant growth, net photosynthetic rate, carbonic anhydrase (E.C. 4.2.1.1) and nitrate reductase (E.C.1.6.6.1) activities in the leaves of Raphanus sativus L. under the influence of cadmium (Cd) stress. Cd reduced plant growth, photosynthetic pigment levels, net photosynthetic rate and the activities of carbonic anhydrase and nitrate reductase. However seed application of EBL reduced the toxic effect of Cd on plant growth, pigment content, photosynthesis and enzyme activities. The studies clearly demonstrated the ameliorating effect of 24-epibrassinolide in mitigating the toxicity of Cd in plants. and S. Anuradha, S. Seeta Ram Rao.
The effect on traits of photosynthesis and water relations of assimilate demand was studied in olive tree that has strong alternate bearing. The diurnal and seasonal leaf gas exchanges, area dry mass, and saccharide and chlorophyll (Chl) contents were measured by comparing shoots with fruit of "on-trees" (heavy fruit load) with shoots without fruit on both "on-trees" and "off-trees" (light fruit load). In spite of large seasonal and diurnal differences, leaf net photosynthetic rate (PN), stomatal conductance (gs), sub-stomatal CO2 concentration (C1), transpiration rate (E), and respiration rate (RD) were not significantly influenced by fruit load or by the presence or absence of fruit on the shoot. An only exception was at the beginning of July when the one-year-old leaves on shoots with fruit had slightly higher PN and E than leaves on shoots without fruit. Water content, Chl and saccharide contents, and area dry mass of the leaf were not substantially influenced by the presence/absence of fruit on the shoot or fruit load. Hence the sink demand, associated with fruit growth, did not improve leaf photosynthetic efficiency in olive.
An experiment was conducted to study the effect of NaCl (electric conductivity of 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 dS m-1) on growth, gas exchange parameters, water status, membrane injury, chlorophyll stability index and oxidative defense mechanisms in two cultivars (Gola and Umran) of Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana). Results showed that the dry mass and leaf area reduced linearly with increasing levels of salinity. Net photosynthetic rate (PN), transpiration (E), and stomatal conductance (gs) were comparatively lower in Umran which further declined with salinity. Leaf relative water content, chlorophyll (Chl) stability and membrane stability also decreased significantly under salt stress, with higher magnitude in Umran. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX) and catalase (CAT) activities were higher in Gola whereas hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation and lipid peroxidation (MDA content) were higher in control as well as salttreated plants of Umran. The Na+ content was higher in the roots of Gola and in the leaves of Umran, resulting in high K+/Na+ ratio in Gola leaves. Thus it is suggested that salt tolerance mechanism is more efficiently operative in cultivar Gola owing to better management of growth, physiological attributes, antioxidative defense mechanism, and restricted translocation of Na+ from root to leaves along with larger accumulation of K+ in its leaves., R. Agrawal ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) may affect different physiological functions in plants. We carried out a hydroponic experiment under greenhouse conditions in order to evaluate the effect of Cd on photosynthetic and physiological parameters of safflower. The responses of six safflower genotypes (Nebraska-10, 2811, Kouseh, S149, C111, and K12) to four concentrations of CdCl2 (0, 1.5, 3, and 4.5 mg L-1) were examined. Mean shoot and root dry masses of safflower plants were reduced by nearly 57% after the treatment by 4.5 mg(CdCl2) L-1. Contrary to the mean proline content, which increased by 121%, the mean total leaf area per plant, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance to the CO2, leaf chlorophyll a, b, and (a+b), carotenoid content, and quantum efficiency of PSII decreased by 84.4, 50.5, 50.0, 31.6, 32.2, 31.8, 32.9, and 11.2%, respectively, at the presence of 4.5 mg(CdCl2) L-1. The mean Cd concentration in shoots and roots of safflower genotypes exhibited 52- and 157-fold increase, respectively, due to the addition of 4.5 mg(CdCl2) L-1 to the growing media. The mean malondialdehyde content was enhanced by 110% with the increasing CdCl2 concentration, indicating the occurrence of a considerable lipid peroxidation in the plant tissues. Even though the membrane stability index was adversely affected by the application of 1.5 mg(CdCl2) L-1, the decrease ranged from 45 to 62% when plants were treated with 4.5 mg(CdCl2) L-1. Genotype Nebraska-10 seemed to be different from the remaining genotypes in response to the 4.5 mg(CdCl2) L-1; its net photosynthetic rate tended to be the greatest and the Cd concentration in shoots and roots was the lowest among genotypes studied. This study proved Cd-induced decline in growth, photosynthesis, and physiological functions of safflower., L. Moradi, P. Ehsanzadeh., and Obsahuje seznam literatury