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Effect of exogenous melatonin on improvement of chlorophyll content and photochemical efficiency of PSII in mallow plants (Malva parviflora L.) treated with cadmium

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Abstract

Melatonin is a growth regulator that improves the growth and chlorophyll (chl) content in plants. This study aims to investigate the effect of melatonin pretreatment on chl synthesis and fluorescence parameters in Malva parviflora exposed to cadmium (Cd). The 42-day-old plants were transferred to nutrient solutions containing 50 μM melatonin. After two days, some plants were exposed to 50 μM Cd. Eight days after Cd treatment, some indicators related to chl fluorescence and some biochemical parameters were measured. In this study, melatonin increased chl content and chl a/pheophytin a (pheo a) ratio, chlorophyllide a (chlide a), porphyrin compounds, and 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) in the presence of Cd. However, it decreased chl a/chlide a ratio under these conditions. Whereas Cd treatment resulted in significant reductions in photochemical activity and electron transfer rate in PSII, melatonin improved photochemical efficiency of PSII by reducing the toxic effect of Cd on the activity of the oxygen evolving complex (OEC) on the electron donor site and reducing non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). Based on the results, it appears that melatonin can maintain the chl content of plants exposed to Cd by increasing the precursors of the chl biosynthesis pathway and reducing its degradation rate. These results may, at least in our experimental conditions, partly explain the reason for the improved yield and growth of Cd-exposed plants when pretreated with melatonin.

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Abbreviations

5-ALA:

5-Aminolevulinic acid

Cd:

Cadmium

Chl:

Chlorophyll

Chlide:

Chlorophyllide

ETR:

The relative electron transfer rate

Pheo:

Pheophytin

Proto:

Protoporphyrin

Pchlide:

Protochlorophyllide

FW:

Fresh weight

Mg-Proto:

Magnesium-protoporphyrin

NPQ:

Non-photochemical quenching

NBT:

Nitroblue tetrazolium

OEC:

Oxygen evolving complex

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

qP:

Photochemical quenching

ΦPSII:

The effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Research Affairs of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz [Grant number: SCU.SB99.746].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

    Parzhak Zoufan & Saham Tousi

  2. Department of Horticultural Science and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran

    Mohammad Reza Zare Bavani

  3. Department of Production Engineering and Plant Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

    Afrasyab Rahnama

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  1. Parzhak Zoufan
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  2. Mohammad Reza Zare Bavani
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  3. Saham Tousi
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Contributions

PZ designed and conducted the research and wrote the paper original draft. MRZB helped to measure and analyze fluorescence indices. ST performed all the assessments related to growth and biochemical parameters. AR helped as consultant to carry out measurement protocols. All authors revised the manuscript and approved submission of this work.

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Correspondence to Parzhak Zoufan.

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Zoufan, P., Zare Bavani, M.R., Tousi, S. et al. Effect of exogenous melatonin on improvement of chlorophyll content and photochemical efficiency of PSII in mallow plants (Malva parviflora L.) treated with cadmium. Physiol Mol Biol Plants 29, 145–157 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-022-01271-8

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