Maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings were grown in nutrient solution culture containing 0, 5, and 20 μM cadmium (Cd) and the effects on various aspects of photosynthesis were investigated after 24, 48, 96 and 168 h of Cd treatments. Photosynthetic rate (PN) decreased after 48 h of 20 μM Cd and 96 h of 5μM Cd addition, respectively. Chl a and total Chl content in leaves declined under 48 h of Cd exposure. Chl b content decreased on extending the period of Cd exposure to 96 h. The maximum quantum efficiency and potential photosynthetic capacity of PSII, indicated by Fv/Fm and Fv/Fo, respectively, were depressed after 96 h onset of Cd exposure. After 48 h of 5μM Cd and 24 h of 20 μM Cd treatments, the activities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco, EC 4.1.39) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC, EC 4.1.1.31) in the leaves started to decrease, respectively. We found that the limitation of photosynthetic capacity in Cd stressed maize leaves was associated with Cd toxicity on the light and the dark stages. However, Cd stress initially reduced the activities of Rubisco and PEPC and subsequently affected the PSII electron transfer, suggesting that the Calvin cycle reactions in maize plants are the primary target of the Cd toxic effect rather than PSII. and H. Wang ... [et al.].
A field experiment was conducted to investigate the changes in chlorophyll (Chl) and nitrogen (N) contents, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCO) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) contents and PEPC activity, and the photon-saturated net photosynthetic rate (PNsat), and their relationships with leaf senescence in two maize hybrids with different senescent appearance. One stay-green (cv. P3845) and one earlier senescent (cv. Hokkou 55) hybrid were used in this study, and we found that Chl and N contents and the PNsat in individual leaves of P3845 were greater than those in corresponding leaves of Hokkou 55 at the successive growth stages. In addition, larger contents of RuBPCO and PEPC, and a greater activity of PEPC were observed in P3845. Due to the lower rates of decrease of Chl, RuBPCO, and PEPC amounts per unit of N, and the lower net C translocation rate per unit of N in the stay-green hybrid, leaf senescence was delayed in comparison to the earlier senescent hybrid. and Ping He ... [et al.].
The effects of Cu, Cd, and Pb toxicity on photosynthesis in cucumber leaves (Cucumis sativus L.) were studied by the measurements of gas exchange characteristics, chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence parameters, and Chl content. Concentrations of metals in sequence of 20 μM Cu, 20 and 50 μM Cd, and 1 000 μM Pb decreased the plant dry mass to 50-60 % after 10 d of treatment whereas 50 μM of Cu decreased it to 30 %. The content of Cd in leaves of plants treated with 50 μM Cd was three times higher than the contents of Cu and Pb after plant treatment with 50 μM Cu or 1 000 μM Pb. Hence Cd was transported to leaves much better than Cu and Pb. Nevertheless, the net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance in leaves treated with 50 μM Cu or Cd were similarly reduced. Thus, Cu was more toxic than Cd and Pb for photosynthesis in cucumber leaves. None of the investigated metals decreased internal CO2 concentrations. Also the effect of metals on potential efficiency of photosystem 2, PS2 (Fv/Fm) was negligible. The metal dependent reduction of PS2 quantum efficiency (ΦPS2) after plant adaptation in actinic irradiation was more noticeable. This could imply that reduced demand for ATP and NADPH in a dark phase of photosynthesis caused a down-regulation of PS2 photochemistry. Furthermore, in leaves of metal-treated plants the decrease in water percentage as well as lower contents of Chl and Fe were observed. Thus photosynthesis is not the main limiting factor for cucumber growth under Cu, Cd, or Pb stress. and M. Burzyński, G. Kłobus.
Following treatment with 5-aminolevulinic acid the activity of iS-adenosyl-L- methionineimagnesium protoporphyrin IX methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.11) in wheat leaves decreased, whereas monomethyl ester magnesium protoporphyrin IX and protochlorophyllide accumulated. The inactivation of the enzyme was the result of a cessation of the enzyme-product complex dissociation because of the limited number of porphyrin-binding sites on the structural carrier.
Effíciency of the energy transformation for CO2 fixation (E), and kinetics of the initial 02-mediated electron transport of Spimlina platemis (Gom.) Geitl. and Chlorella vulgaris Beijerinck cells were measured after adaptation to various growth irradiances (7) by means of the delayed fluorescence (DF) induction curves. Maxima of the membrane potential expenses during induction period were observed at I half saturating oxygen evolution; they were shifted according to growth 1 remaining higher in Spirulina than in Chlorella. The alterations of absorbance and fluorescence spectra at 25 oC after adaptation to / demonstrated changes in composition of pigments of algae, created to compensate for the imbalance in radiation absorption between the two photosystems. For Spirulina cells, the value of E was higher after growing under low /, or under blue radiation absorbed mainly by photosystem (PS) 1 (400-500 nm) with excitation by yellow (570 nm) radiation. For Chlorella cells, it was also higher after growing under low I. Under such conditions the half-rise time for DP-phase of DF induction curve decreased, which reflected an acceleration of kinetics of the initial electron transport between photosystems. An opposite situation was observed with Spirulina cells grown under high I or yellow radiation, and Chlorella cells from high I. Enhancement of effective PS2/PS1 ratio associated with decrease of reaction centre (RC) 2/RCl stoichiometry may be a cause of the increase of E and high membrane energization under saturating I in algae adapted to low 1.
Differences in structural, physiological, and biochemical features between C3 and C4 species resulted in different wateruse efficiencies and different adaptations to climate. This paper aimed at investigating, at a late successional stage, the water-use efficiency of two forage species, Dichanthium ischaemum and Dasypyrum villosum, which exhibit different growth forms (perenial, annual) and photosynthetic mechanisms (C4 and C3, respectively). The annual C3 species Avena fatua, at an early successional stage, was included in our experiments to contrast its behaviour against D. villosum. The experiment was conducted during the growing season in low-elevation grasslands of North Greece. Midday leaf water potential, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were measured. Instantaneous water-use efficiency (WUE) and intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUEi) were calculated in D. ischaemum, D. villosum, and A. fatua. The results suggest that, under natural rainfall conditions, the annual C3 grass species D. villosum exhibits a similar WUE with higher values of WUEi than the perennial C4 species
D. ischaemum at late stage of succession on the low elevation Mediterranean grasslands. Moreover, A. fatua at an early successional stage, exhibited different photosynthetic behaviour than D. villosum at a late successional stage. These findings indicate that the annual C3 species D. villosum under drought and at a late successional stage seems to modify the WUE obtaining values similar to those of C4 species. The extent to which the ecophysiological characteristics of D. villosum are environmentally or intrinsically determined remains to be answered. and M. Karatassiou, B. Noitsakis.
With japonica rice 98-08, indica hybrids Shanyou 63, Gangyou 881, and X07S/Zihui 100, and sub-species hybrid Peiai 64S/9311 as materials, chlorophyll (Chl) content, Chl a fluorescence parameters, and membrane lipid peroxidation in flag leaf were measured at late developmental stages under natural conditions. Fv/Fm, qP, ΦPS2, and electron transport rate gradually decreased while qN increased conversely. Excessive photon energy led to the accumulation of active oxygen (O2-), H2O, malonyldialdehyde, and products of membrane lipid peroxidation, and resulted in reduced Chl content and early ageing subsequent to the photooxidation during flag leaf senescence. There was obvious diversification of these parameters among rice cultivars. In comparison with japonica cv. 98-08 (tolerant to photooxidation), Fv/Fm decreased in indica cv. Shanyou 63 (susceptible to photooxidation) with greater accumulation of active oxygen and a sharp drop in Chl content, which resulted in "yellowish" early ageing, and affected the filling and setting of rice grains. The mechanism for premature ageing in indica rice was related to irradiance and temperature at filling stages. On a sunny day at above 25 °C, the reaction centre of photosystem 2 (PS2) exhibited a dynamic change on reversible inactivation. Under the intense irradiance at noon, PS2 function in indica rice exhibited obvious down-regulation and photoinhibition. Under intense irradiance with lowered temperatures, PS2 resulted in photo-damage and early ageing, related to the degradation of PS2-D1 protein and the inhibition of endogenous protection systems such as the xanthophyll cycle and enzymes scavenging active oxygen. Hence for high-yield breeding, based on a good plant-type and utilising heterosis and tolerance of photooxidation, the selection of japonica rice or a sterile line with the japonica genotype as female is a strategy worthy of consideration. and Demao Jiao, Benhua Ji, Xia Li.
Characteristics of in vivo nitráte reductase (NR, EC 1.6.6.1) activity in leaf tissue of the crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plant Notonia grandiflora DC. were determined. The pH optimum for the enzyme was 7.0. Among the five low molecular mass solvents tested, n-propanol was more effective in promoting NR activity. Supply of 1.0 % (v/v) M-propanol along with 0.5 % Triton X-100 was the most appropriate assay condition to bring about maximum NR activity (NRA), that was proportionally enhanced with duration of the incubation and mass of the leaf tissue. Leaf fragments of 2 to 4 mm slice width had maximal NRA. The highest NRA was obtained with 200 mM of nitráte supplied in the infiltration medium. NRA was higher in fully expanded, mature leaves than in tender and senescing leaves. The cellular nitráte content was strongly positively correlated with NRA in leaves of various physiological ages. The NRA/N03’ content ratio (index of nitráte utilization efQciency) was the highest for the tender leaves and the lowest for the senescing leaves. However, maximum total titratable acidity (malate production) was obtained for the fully expanded mature leaves in comparison with the other leaves. A positive and significant correlation (r = 0.92) was obtained between nitráte reduction and titratable acid content. The results are indicative of a possible role of nitráte reduction in the regulation of noctumal acid production in the CAM plants.
The effects of Mn-deficiency on CO2 assimilation and excitation energy distribution were studied using Mn-starved maize leaves. Mn-deficiency caused about 70 % loss in the photon-saturated net photosynthetic rate (PN) compared to control leaves. The loss of PN was associated with a strong decrease in the activity of oxygen evolution complex (OEC) and the linear electron transport driven by photosystem 2 (PS2) in Mn-deficienct leaves. The photochemical quenching of PS2 (qP) and the maximum efficiency of PS2 photochemistry (Fv/Fm) decreased significantly in Mn-starved leaves under high irradiance, implicating that serious photoinhibition took place. However, the 'high-energy' fluorescence quenching (qE) decreased, which was associated with xanthophyll cycle. The results showed that the pool of de-epoxidation components of the xanthophyll cycle was lowered markedly owing to Mn deficiency. Linear electron transport driven by PS2 de-creased significantly and was approximately 70 % lower in Mn-deficient leaves than that in control, indicating less trans-thylakoid pH gradient was built in Mn deficient leaves. We suggest that the decrease of non-radiative dissipation depending on xanthophyll cycle in Mn-starved leaves is a result of the deficiency of trans-thylakoid pH gradient. and C. D. Jiang, H. Y. Gao, Q. Zou.