Abstract
Trinitrotoluene, as a compound of conventional explosive, may cause inhibitory effect on terrestrial plants. When Lactuca sativa was exposed to different concentrations of trinitrotoluene (32–1000 mg/kg), photosynthetic process was investigated by using rapid chlorophyll fluorescence kinetic and pulse modulated fluorometry. The decrease of chlorophyll a variable fluorescence was seen to be caused by the deactivation of photosystem II reaction centers. We found for rapid variable fluorescence to be a useful indicator to evaluate the inhibitory effect of trinitrotoluene on photosystem II primary photochemistry and electron transport. The fluorescence parameters, related to the reduction state of photosystem II and to non-photochemical dissipation of light energy, showed a strong relation between the inhibitory effect of photosystem II activity and concentration of trinitrotoluene. The change of photosynthetic fluorescence parameters induced by trinitrotoluene was a reliable indication of the plant physiological state. We proposed for the reduction state of photosystem II and the non-photochemical energy dissipation to be a useful tool in bioassay toxicity testing of trinitrotoluene polluted soil.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Altamirano M, Garcia-Villada L, Agrelo M, Sánchez-Martin L, Martin-Otero L, Flores-Moya A, Rico M, López-Rodas V, Costas E (2004) A novel approach to improve specificity of algal biosensors using wild-type and resistant mutants: an application to detect TNT. Biosens Bioelectron 19:1319–1323
American Society for Testing and Materials (1999) Standard guide for conducting terrestrial plant toxicity tests. E1963-98
Boopathy R (2000) Bioremediation of explosives contaminated soil. Int Biodeter Biodegrad 46:29–36
Christensen MG, Teicher HB, Streibig JC (2003) Linking fluorescence induction curve and biomass in herbicide screening. Pest Manag Sci 59:1303–1310
Critchley C (1998) Photoinhibition. In: Raghavendra AS (ed) Photosynthesis: a comprehensive treatise. New York: Cambridge University Press, pp 246–272
Cruz JA, Avenson TJ, Kanazawa A, Takizawa K, Edwards GE, Kramer DM (2005) Plasticity in light reactions of photosynthesis for energy production and photoprotection. J Exp Bot 56:395–406
Dewez D, Marchand M, Eullaffroy P, Popovic R (2002) Evaluation of the effects of diuron and its derivatives on Lemna gibba using a fluorescence toxicity index. Environ Toxicol 17:493–501
Gong P, Wilke BM, Fleischmann S (1999) Soil-based phytotoxicity of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) to terrestrial higher plants. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 36:152–157
Horton P, Hague A (1988) Studies on the induction of chlorophyll fluorescence in isolated barley protoplasts. IV. Resolution of non-photochemical quenching. Biochim Biophys Acta 932:107–115
Juneau P, El Berdey A, Popovic R (2002) PAM-fluorometry in the determination of the sensitivity of Chlorella vulgaris, Selenastrum capricornutum and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to copper. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 42:155–164
Krishnan G, Horst GL, Darnell S, Powers WL (2000) Growth and development of smooth bromgrass and tall fescue in TNT-contaminated soil. Environ Pollut 107:109–116
Lazár D (1999) Chlorophyll a fluorescence induction. Biochim Biophys Acta 1412:1–28
Lee I, Kim OK, Chang YY, Bae B, Kim HH, Baek KH (2002) Heavy metal concentrations and enzyme activities in soil from a contaminated Korean Shooting Range. J Biosci Bioeng 94:406–411
Mallick N, Mohn FH (2003) Use of chlorophyll fluorescence in metal-stress research: a case study with the green microalga Scenedesmus. Ecotox Environ Saf 55:64–69
Müller P, Li XP, Niyogi KK (2001) Non-photochemical quenching: a response to excess light energy. Plant Physiol 125:1558–1566
Popovic R, Dewez D, Juneau P (2003) Applications of chlorophyll fluorescence in ecotoxicology: heavy metals, herbicides, and air pollutants. In: DeEll JR, Toivonen PMA (eds) Practical applications of chlorophyll fluorescence in plant biology. Kluwer Academic Publishers, London, pp 151–184
Robidoux PY, Bardai G, Paquet L, Ampleman G, Thiboutot S, Hawari J, Sunahara GI (2003) Phytotoxicity of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) in spiked artificial and natural forest soils. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 44:198–209
Rohacek K, Bartak M (1999) Technique of the modulated chlorophyll fluorescence: basic concepts, useful parameters, and some applications. Photosynthetica 37:339–363
Rohacek K (2002) Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters: the definitions, photosynthetic meaning, and mutual relationships. Photosynthetica 40:13–29
Schreiber U, Schliwa U, Bilger W (1986) Continuous recording of photochemical and no-photochemical chlorophyll fluorescence quenching with a new type of modulation fluorometer. Photosynth Res 10:51–62
Siciliano SD, Roy R, Greer CW (2000) Reduction in denitrification activity in field soils exposed to long term contamination by 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). FEMS Microbiol Ecol 32:61–68
Strasser BJ, Dau H, Heinze H, Senger H (1999) Comparison of light induced and cell cycle dependent changes in the photosynthetic aparatus: a fluorescence induction study on the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus. Photosyn Research 60:217–227
Talmage SS, Opresko DM, Maxwell CJ, Welsh CJE, Cretella FM, Reno PH, Daniel FB (1999) Nitroaromatic munition compounds: environmental effects and screening values. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 161:1–156
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ali, N.A., Dewez, D., Robidoux, P. et al. Photosynthetic parameters as indicators of trinitrotoluene (TNT) inhibitory effect: Change in chlorophyll a fluorescence induction upon exposure of Lactuca sativa to TNT. Ecotoxicology 15, 437–441 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-006-0065-5
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-006-0065-5