Photosynthesis Research

, Volume 34, Issue 2, pp 271–278 | Cite as

Sulfite inhibition of photochemical activity of intact pea leaves

  • Konka Veeranjaneyulu
  • Denis Charlebois
  • Christophe N. N'soukpoé-Kossi
  • Roger M. Leblanc
Regular Paper
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Sulfite treatment of pea leaf disks in light caused a significant decrease in the relative quantum yield of photosynthetic oxygen evolution and energy storage (ES) as measured by photoacoustic (PA) spectroscopy. The inhibition was concentration dependent and was less in darkness than in light, indicating light-dependent inhibitory site(s) on the photosynthetic electron transport chain. Further, in darksulfite-treated leaves, the energy storage was more affected than the relative quantum yield of oxygen evolution, suggesting that photophosphorylation and/or cyclic electron transport around PS I are sites of sulfite action in darkness. The Rfd values, the ratio of fluorescence decrease (fd) to the steady-state fluorescence (fs), decreased significantly in leaves treated with sulfite in light but were not affected in dark-treated ones, confirming the photoacoustic observations. Similarly, the ratio of variable fluorescence (Fv) to maximum fluorescence (Fm), a measure of PS II photochemical efficiency, was affected by sulfite treatment in light and not changed by treatment in darkness. An attempt was made to explain the mechanism of sulfite action on photosynthetic electron transport in light and in darkness.

Key words

oxygen evolution energy storage photoacoustic spectroscopy 

Abbreviations

APT

amplitude of photothermal signal

Aox

amplitude of oxygen signal

ES

energy storage

fd

fluorescence decrease

fs

steady-state fluorescence

Fm

maximum fluorescence

Fv

variable fluorescence

PA

photoacoustic(s)

This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. AdamsIII WW, Winter K and Lanzl A (1989) Light and the maintenance of photosynthetic competence in leaves of Populus balsamifera L. during short-term exposures to high concentratoons of sulfur dioxide. Planta 177: 91–97Google Scholar
  2. Alscher R, Bower JL and Zipfel W (1987a) The basis for different sensitivities of photosynthesis to SO2 in two cultivars of pea. J Exp Bot 38: 99–108Google Scholar
  3. Alscher R, Franz M and Jeske CW (1987b) Sulfur dioxide and chloroplast metabolism. In: Saunders JA, Kosak-Channing L and Conn EE (eds) Phytochemical Effects of Environmental Compounds, pp 1–28. Plenum Publishing Corporation, New YorkGoogle Scholar
  4. Asada K (1980) Formation and scavenging of superoxide in chloroplasts, with relation to injury by sulfur dioxide in studies on the effects of air pollutants on plants and mechanisms of phytotoxicity. Res Rep Natl Inst Environ Stud 11: 165–179Google Scholar
  5. Asada K and Kiso K (1973) Initiation of aerobic oxidation of sulfite by illuminated chloroplast. Eur J Biochem 33: 253–257PubMedGoogle Scholar
  6. Beauregard M and Popovic R (1987) Artificial inhibitory effects of sulfite on Photosystem II activity measured by oxygen evolution in chloroplasts. Photosynth Res 14: 89–94Google Scholar
  7. Bushmann C, Prehn H and Lichtenthaler H (1984) Photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) and its application in photosynthesis research. Photosynth Res 5: 29–46Google Scholar
  8. Carpentier R, LaRue B and Leblanc RM (1983) Photoacoustic spectroscopy of Anacystis nidulans. I. Effect of sample thickness on the photoacoustic signal. Arch Biochem Biophys 222: 403–410PubMedGoogle Scholar
  9. Cerović ZG, Kalezic R and Plesnicăr M (1982) The role of photophosphorylation in SO2 and SO3 2− inhibition of photosynthesis in isolated chloroplasts. Planta 156: 249–254Google Scholar
  10. Charland M, Veeranjaneyulu K, Charlebois D and Leblanc RM (1992) Photoacoustic signal generation in leaves: are O2-consuming processes involved? Biochim Biophys Acta 1098: 261–265Google Scholar
  11. Covello PS, Chang A, Dumbroff EB and Thompson JE (1989) Inhibition of Photosystem II precedes thylakoid membrane lipid peroxidation in bisulfite-treated leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris. Plant Physiol 90: 1492–1497Google Scholar
  12. Darrall NM (1989) The effect of air pollutants on physiological processes in plants. Plant Cell Environ 12: 1–30Google Scholar
  13. Davies T (1980) Grasses more sensitive to SO2 pollution in conditions of low irradiance and short days. Nature 284: 483–485Google Scholar
  14. Ghisi R, Dittrich APM and Heber U (1990) Oxidation versus reductive detoxification of SO2 by chloroplasts. Plant Physiol 92: 846–849Google Scholar
  15. Hall DO and Telfer A (1969) The effect of sulfate and sulfite on photophosphorylation by spinach chloroplasts. Progr Photosynth Res 3: 1281–1287Google Scholar
  16. Havaux M, Canaani O and Malkin S (1986) Photosynthetic responses of leaves to water stress, expressed by photoacoustics and related methods. 1. Probing the photoacoustic method as an indicator for water stress in vivo. Plant Physiol 82: 827–833Google Scholar
  17. Havaux M, Canaani O and Malkin S (1987) Oxygen uptake by tobacco leaves after heat shock. Plant Cell Environ 10: 677–683Google Scholar
  18. Jones T and Mansfield TA (1982) The effect of SO2 on growth and development of seedings of Phleum pratense under different light and temperature environments. Environ Pollut 27: 57–71Google Scholar
  19. Kitajima M and Butler WL (1975) Quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence and primary photochemistry in chloroplasts by dibromothymoquinone. Biochim Biophys Acta 376: 105–115PubMedGoogle Scholar
  20. Lichtenthaler HK, Buschmann C, Rinderle U and Schmuck G (1986) Application of chlorophyll fluorescence in ecophysiology. Radiat Environ Biophys 25: 297–308PubMedGoogle Scholar
  21. Marques IA and Anderson LE (1986) Effects of arsenite, sulfite and sulfate on photosynthetic carbon metabolism in isolated pea (Pisum sativum L. cv Little Marvel) chloroplasts. Plant Physiol 82: 488–493Google Scholar
  22. Miszalski Z and Ziegler H (1989) Sulfite sensitivity of oat (Avena sativa L.) protoplasts. Biochem Physiol Pflanzen 185: 233–243Google Scholar
  23. N'soukpoé-Kossi CN, Bélanger R, Keilani H, Proteau H, Boivin P and Leblanc RM (1990) Short term acid damage to photosynthesis in corn and sugar maple leaves assessed by photoacoustic spectroscopy. Can J Bot 68: 2292–2300Google Scholar
  24. Olsyk DM and Tingey DT (1984) Phytotoxicity of air pollutants. Evidence for the photodetoxification of SO2 but not O3. Plant Physiol 74: 999–1005Google Scholar
  25. Pfanz H, Martinoia E, Lange OL and Heber U (1987) Flux of SO2 into leaf cells and cellular acidification by SO2. Plant Physiol 85: 928–933Google Scholar
  26. Poulet P, Cahen D and Malkin S (1983) Photoacoustic detection of photosynthetic oxygen evolution from leaves. Quantitative analysis by phase and amplitude measurements. Biochim Biophys Acta 724: 433–446Google Scholar
  27. Rennenberg H, Huber B, Schröder P, Stahl K, Haunold W, Georgii HW, Slovik S and Pfanz H (1990) Emission of volatile sulfur compounds from spruce trees. Plant Physiol 92: 560–564Google Scholar
  28. Sekija J, Wilson LG and Filner P (1982) Resistance to injury by SO2: correlation with its reduction to, and emission to hydrogen sulfide in cucurbitaceae. Plant Physiol 70: 437–441Google Scholar
  29. Shimazaki K, Nakamachi K, Kondo N and Sugahara K (1984a) Sulfite inhibition of Photosystem II in illuminated spinach leaves. Plant Cell Physiol 25: 337–341Google Scholar
  30. Shimazaki K, Ito K, Kondo N and Sugahara K (1984b) Reversible inhibition of the photosynthetic water splitting enzyme system by SO2 fumigation assayed by chlorophyll fluorescence and EPR signal in vivo. Plant Cell Physiol 25: 795–803Google Scholar
  31. Silvius JE, Ingle M and Baer CH (1975) Sufur dioxide inhibition of photosynthesis in isolated chloroplasts. Plant Physiol 56: 434–437Google Scholar
  32. Veeranjaneyulu K, Charlebois D, N'soukpoé-Kossi CN and Leblanc RM (1990) Effect of sulfur dioxide and sulfite on photochemical energy storage of isolated chloroplasts-A photoacoustic study. Environ Pollut 65: 127–139CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  33. Veeranjaneyulu K, N'soukpoé-Kossi CN and Leblanc RM (1991) Spectral efficiency of in vivo photochemical energy storage in SO2 fumigated sugar maple leaves. J Plant Physiol 137: 459–464Google Scholar
  34. Ziegler I, Marewa A and Schoepe E (1976) Action of sulfite on the substrate kinetics of chloroplastic NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Phytochem 15: 1627–1632CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Kluwer Academic Publishers 1992

Authors and Affiliations

  • Konka Veeranjaneyulu
    • 1
  • Denis Charlebois
    • 1
  • Christophe N. N'soukpoé-Kossi
    • 1
  • Roger M. Leblanc
    • 1
  1. 1.Centre de recherche en photobiophysiqueUniversité du Québec à Trois-RivièresTrois-RivièresCanada

Personalised recommendations