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Development of photosynthetic apparatus and respiration in pea seedlings during greening as influenced by toxic concentration of lead

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Abstract

Detached leaves of 14 day-old dark-grown pea seedlings were immersed with their cut ends either in water (control) or in 20 mM Pb(NO3)2 solution. They were exposed to continuous illumination during 24 and 48 h. The formation of PSII primary photochemistry in thylakoids was determined in vivo by measuring changes in values of parameters of chlorophyll a fast fluorescence kinetics: Fo, Fm, Fv, Fv/Fm and t 1/2. The amount of lead accumulation in leaves, content of chlorophylls and carotenoids and rates of CO2 uptake in light and evolution in darkness (Pn-net photosynthesis and DR - dark respiration respectively) were determined. It has been found that with the exception of Fo, values of Fv, Fm and Fv/Fm were reduced by Pb2+. The values of t 1/2 were significantly larger in Pb2+ treated leaves. Decrease in the chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters was paralleled with the strong inhibition by this metal the biosynthesis of chlorophyll a and b but less of the carotenoids. Pb2+ drastically reduced Pn but had a stimulatory action on DR after 24 h and small inhibition of DR after 48 h exposure of leaves to this metal. As a consequence, after 48 h of greening the ratio of DR/Pn of control leaves was 0.45 whereas in Pb2+ treated leaves 2.7. It is proposed that DR in leaves plays a protective role against damage of Pn by Pb2+. Protection can be due to the supply the respiratory derived reductant and ATP to carry out cell metabolism upon reduced photosynthesis.

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Abbreviations

Fo:

initial non-variable fluorescence at open reaction centers of PSII

Fm:

maximal fluorescence with all reaction centers closed

Fv:

variable fluorescence equals Fm-Fo

Fv/Fm:

an indicator of photochemical yield of PSII

Pn:

photosynthesis

PSII:

phtosystem II, t 1/2 a half rise time from Fo to Fm in ms

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Physiology, University of Warsaw, Krakowskie Przedmieście 26/28, 00-927, Warszawa, Poland

    Magdalena Łukaszek & Jerzy W. Poskuta

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  1. Magdalena Łukaszek
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  2. Jerzy W. Poskuta
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Correspondence to Jerzy W. Poskuta.

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Łukaszek, M., Poskuta, J.W. Development of photosynthetic apparatus and respiration in pea seedlings during greening as influenced by toxic concentration of lead. Acta Physiol Plant 20, 35–40 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-998-0040-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-998-0040-2

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