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Zinc accumulation, photosynthetic gas exchange, and chlorophyll a fluorescence in Zn-stressed Miscanthus × giganteus plants

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Accumulation and distribution of zinc within Miscanthus × giganteus plants grown on elevated Zn concentrations and their photosynthetic performance were investigated. High concentrations of Zn in soils caused an increase of its concentrations in all plant organs. The bioconcentration factor, bioaccumulation factor, and translocation factor were lower than one indicating that M. × giganteus is an excluder plant species. Excessive Zn induced visible leaf damage, i.e. chlorosis and necrosis, only in the oldest leaves, pointing to Zn accumulation. Elevated amounts of Zn in leaves significantly lowered the photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentrations, parameters of chlorophyll a fluorescence, and chlorophyll b content. Despite Zn excess in leaves, there was no severe reduction in the maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, indicating a high photosynthetic capacity, high tolerance to elevated Zn concetrations, and ability of M. × giganteus to grow on Zn-contaminated soils.

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Abbreviations

BCF:

bioconcentration factor

Car:

carotenoids

Chl:

chlorophyll

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

DM:

dry mass

E :

transpiration rate

F0 :

minimal fluorescence yield of the dark-adapted state

Fm :

maximal fluorescence yield of the dark-adapted state

Fv :

variable fluorescence

Fv/Fm :

maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry

gs:

stomatal conductance

P N :

photosynthetic rate

R :

respiration

TF:

translocation factor8

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Ecology and Phytogeography, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    G. Andrejić, M. Prica & T. Rakić

  2. Department of Ecology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, University of Belgrade, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia

    G. Gajić

  3. Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, University of Belgrade, 11080, Zemun, Serbia

    G. Andrejić & Ž. Dželetović

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  1. G. Andrejić
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Acknowledgements: The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development (grant No. 173030 and grant No. 173018). We thank the reviewers and the editors for their valuable suggestions and comments. We would also like to thank Mr. Raymond Dooley for editing the English language of the manuscript.

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Andrejić, G., Gajić, G., Prica, M. et al. Zinc accumulation, photosynthetic gas exchange, and chlorophyll a fluorescence in Zn-stressed Miscanthus × giganteus plants. Photosynthetica 56, 1249–1258 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-018-0827-3

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