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.
Plants of Brassica juncea L. cv. T-59 were supplied with 50 or 100 µM nickel (Ni50, Ni100) at 10 d after sowing (DAS), and sprayed with 28-homobrassinolide (HBR) at 20 DAS. The plants treated with Ni alone exhibited reduced growth, net photosynthetic rate, content of chlorophyll, and the activities of nitrate reductase (E.C.1.6.6.1) and carbonic anhydrase (E.C. 4.2.1.1) at observed 40 DAS, whereas, the contents of peroxidase (PER), catalase (CAT), and proline were increased. However, the spray of HBR partially neutralized the toxic effect of Ni on most of the parameters. Moreover, the treatment of HBR in association with either of the Ni concentration boosted the contents of PER and CAT in leaves and that of proline both in leaves and roots. and M. Masidur Alam ... [et al.].
The effect of cytokinins benzylaminopurine (BAP) and thidiazuron on photosynthetic rate and enzyme activities in sugar beet, pea, meadow fescue and reed fescue leaves was studied. Low concentrations (3-10 g nr3) stimulated the net photosynthetic rate, the activities of ribulose-l,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCO) and other enzymes of the carboxylation phase of Calvin cycle, i.e. ribose phosphate isomerase and phosphoribulokinase, and the cycle including the NADP-glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase complex. On the contrary, there was no change in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity. In treated leaves the quantity of RuBPC increased along with increases in the level of total leaf proteins. Thus cytokinins act, probably, by specific altering of the synthesis of certain proteins. Inducing or stimulating the synthesis of essential proteins involved in photosynthetic processes, cytokinins cause changes in photosynthetic activity.
The effect of a short cold stress in combination with photoinhibition stress, similar to a low temperature and a high irradiance situation during early morning in the spring time, was examined on four maize cultivars common for Belgium, that differ in early vigour. After 1 h of 2 °C and 500 μmol(photon) m-2 s-1, quantum efficiency and maximum photosynthesis rate at saturating irradiance decreased on average by 11 and 8 %, respectively. For one cultivar, Magister, the decrease was the largest: by 23 and 10 %, respectively. For this cultivar it was combined with a decrease of the water vapour conductance after the stress. The decrease of Fv/F0 due to the cold/light stress was dependent on the cold tolerance (early vigour) of the cultivars. Fv/F0 changed with -45.5 and -40.2 % for the cultivars Ardiles and Banguy, respectively (cultivars with a less good early vigour) in comparison to -36.3 and -35.9 % for Fjord and Magister, which have a good early vigour. Also the ratio of total chlorophylls/total carotenoids changed in dependence on cold tolerance of the cultivars. For more cold tolerant cultivars, the relative amount of total carotenoids (x+c) was higher, indicating a higher protective state. Both the parameter Fv/F0 and the ratio of total chlorophylls to total carotenoids can be used to differentiate the cold tolerant cultivars from the cold non-tolerant ones. Fv/F0 has the advantage because its resolving power is larger and the measurement is less expensive than determination of the pigment ratio. and P. Lootens, J. van Waes, L. Carlier.
Diurnal fluctuations in the contents of malate in gametophores of Polytrichum commune Hedw. and Polytrichum piliferum Hedw. were small. In gametophores of Mnium undulatum Hedw. and leaves of Hieracium pilosella L. significant differences were found in the accumulation of malate between day and night. However, no significant diurnal differences were found in the contents of citrate. High irradiance, desiccation, and submergence by water resulted in increases in daily fluctuations of malate, particularly in the gametophores of P. piliferum and leaves of H. pilosella. Accumulation of malate during night may show the adaptation of the studied species to unfavourable conditions caused by stresses. The change in activity of NADP-malic enzyme may characterize a response to stress factors. and A. Rzepka, G. Rut, J. Krupa.
The effect of abscisic acid (ABA) on the net photosynthetic rate the ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPC) and the phosphoenolpyruvate caiboxylase (PEPC) activities, the chlorophyll (Chl) content and growth of pea plants (Pisum sativum L.) grown under "white" (WR) or blue radiation (BR), were investigated. BR as compared to WR enhanced P^, the activities of examined enzymes, and Chl content. In špite of higher of the plants grown under BR, diy matter of their shoots was lower in comparison with WR. ABA-treated plants grown under both WR and BR showed reduction in Pn- ABA had no effect on the activities of both RuBPC and PEPC and the Chl content. Independent on the radiation quality, ABA reduced stem elongation, but did not affect the biomass of whole shoots.