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Assessment of cadmium phytotoxicity alleviation by silicon using chlorophyll a fluorescence

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of silicon in alleviating cadmium stress in maize plants grown in a nutrient solution and to evaluate the potential of the spectral emission parameters and the ratio of red fluorescence (Fr) to far-red fluorescence (Ffr) in assessing the beneficial effects of Si. An experiment was carried out using a nutrient solution with a toxic dose of Cd and six doses of Si; biomass, Cd, Si, and photosynthetic pigments of the plants were measured. Chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence analysis demonstrated that Si alleviated Cd toxicity in plants. Chl fluorescence measurements were sensitive in detecting such effects even when significant changes in biomass production and concentrations of photosynthetic pigments were not observed. The spectral emission and the Fr/Ffr ratio were sensitive to the effects of Si. Silicon caused a reduction in the translocation of Cd to the shoots of maize plants.

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Abbreviations

Chl:

chlorophyll

ChlF:

Chl fluorescence

Fr:

red fluorescence

Ffr:

far-red fluorescence

LED:

light emitting diode

Fv :

variable Chl a fluorescence

Fm :

maximum Chl a fluorescence

Fo :

minimal Chl a fluorescence

qP :

coefficient of photochemical quenching

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Soils Remediation, Federal University of Sergipe, Sao Cristovao, 49100-000, Brazil

    A. J. Silva

  2. Laboratory of Soils Environmental Chemistry, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, 52171-900, Brazil

    C. W. A. Nascimento

  3. Department of Physics, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, 52171-900, Brazil

    A. S. Gouveia-Neto

Authors
  1. A. J. Silva
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  2. C. W. A. Nascimento
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  3. A. S. Gouveia-Neto
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Correspondence to C. W. A. Nascimento.

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Silva, A.J., Nascimento, C.W.A. & Gouveia-Neto, A.S. Assessment of cadmium phytotoxicity alleviation by silicon using chlorophyll a fluorescence. Photosynthetica 55, 648–654 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0680-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0680-1

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