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Assessing the poplar photochemical response to high zinc concentrations by image processing and statistical approach

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Abstract

Exposure of plants to high-heavy metals concentration inhibits multiple metabolic processes in plants and leads to an oxidative stress commonly referred as heavy metal ion toxicity. Chlorophyll a fluorescence has enhanced understanding of heavy metal ion action on the photosynthetic system. A rapid and non-invasive technique involving imaging of chlorophyll fluorescence is a useful tool for early detection of plant responses to heavy metal ion toxicity. In this work chlorophyll fluorescence emission and photochemical parameters in plants of Populus x euramericana clone I-214 were investigated by the portable Imaging PAM fluorometer at different days after soil treatment with zinc. Custom software for analysis of the photochemical parameters images has been developed in order to gain a better assessing of the plant performance in response of metal stress. The imaging analysis allowed visualizing heterogeneity in plant response to high zinc concentrations. The heterogeneity of images suggests spatial differences in photochemical activity and changes in the antenna down-regulation.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development) during PhD fellowship period of Dr. M. Sighicelli. The authors also wish to thank Dr. A. Lai (ENEA) for research collaboration within the PhD research project and Dr. P. Menesatti (CRA-ING) and Dr. C. Costa (CRA-ING) for valuable technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Technical Unit Sustainable Development and Agro-Industrial Innovation of Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), 00123, Casaccia, Rome, Italy

    Maria Sighicelli

  2. Technical Unit Development of Application of Radiations of Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Frascati, 00044, Rome, Italy

    Massimiliano Guarneri

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  1. Maria Sighicelli
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  2. Massimiliano Guarneri
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Correspondence to Maria Sighicelli.

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Sighicelli, M., Guarneri, M. Assessing the poplar photochemical response to high zinc concentrations by image processing and statistical approach. Photosynth Res 122, 315–322 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-014-0028-2

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