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Sensitivity of photosynthesis by spinach chloroplast membranes to osmotic stress in vitro: Rapid inhibition of O2 evolution in presence of magnesium

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Abstract

Thylakoids prepared from spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) chloroplasts were exposed to osmotic stress in vitro in the presence or absence of different inorganic salts. By an hour after incubation in 1.0 M sorbitol and 10 mM (or more) MgCl2, the thylakoids lost approximately 80% of their photosystem (PS) II activity, but not PS I. The inhibition occurred only in presence of magnesium as indicated by the combinations of several cations/anions. The PS II activity was relatively insensitive to osmotic stress in the presence of diphenyl carbazide. We therefore conclude that under conditions of water stress in the presence of 10 mM or higher Mg2+, the oxygen evolving system in chloroplasts is rapidly inactivated.

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Abbreviations

DCMU:

3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea

DCPIP:

2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol

DPC:

diphenyl carbazide

MV:

methyl viologen

PS:

photosystem

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, 500 134, Hyderabad, India

    D. Sudha Sundari & A. S. Raghavendra

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  1. D. Sudha Sundari
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  2. A. S. Raghavendra
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Part of this work was included in the thesis submitted by the first author of M.Phil.degree.

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Sundari, D.S., Raghavendra, A.S. Sensitivity of photosynthesis by spinach chloroplast membranes to osmotic stress in vitro: Rapid inhibition of O2 evolution in presence of magnesium. Photosynth Res 23, 325–330 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00034863

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00034863

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