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Photosynthesis and Water Relations in Tomato Plants Cultivated Long-Term in Media Containing (+)-Usnic Acid

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Abstract

The influence of (+)-usnic acid on rates of gas exchange (photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration) in long-term cultivation of tomato plants was studied. The effect was dose-dependent. Plants grown in media containing the maximum concentration of (+)-usnic acid (30 μM) had photosynthetic and respiration rates reduced by 41% and 80%, respectively. The effect on photosynthesis rate may be the result of a multidirectional effect at various stages of this process, which at the highest usnic acid concentration underwent reduction: content of chlorophylls by 30%, carotenoids by 35%, and Hill reaction activity by 75%. Usnic acid also raises the susceptibility of chlorophyll to photodegradation. Under some conditions, transpiration was reduced by 2.1-fold in light and 3.7-fold in dark. This result was correlated with (1) an increase in the diffusive resistance of the stomata (3.1-fold in upper and 1.5-fold in lower surface of leaf), (2) a reduction of stomata density (by 60% on upper and 40% on lower surface), and (3) a 12.3-fold decrease in root hydraulic conductance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Physiology and Development, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Cracow, Poland

    E. Latkowska, Z. Lechowski & J. Bialczyk

  2. Department of Plant Physiology, Swietokrzyska Academy, Swietokrzyska 15, 24-406, Kielce, Poland

    Z. Lechowski & J. Pilarski

  3. Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 2, 30-239, Cracow, Poland

    J. Pilarski

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  1. E. Latkowska
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  2. Z. Lechowski
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  3. J. Bialczyk
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  4. J. Pilarski
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Correspondence to J. Bialczyk.

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Latkowska, E., Lechowski, Z., Bialczyk, J. et al. Photosynthesis and Water Relations in Tomato Plants Cultivated Long-Term in Media Containing (+)-Usnic Acid. J Chem Ecol 32, 2053–2066 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-006-9128-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-006-9128-6

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