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The effects of lead stress on photosynthetic function and chloroplast ultrastructure of Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings

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Abstract

In this experiment, the effects of different lead (Pb) concentrations (0, 200, 600, 1000, 1400 mg kg−1) on photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence in Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings were examined. As Pb concentration increased, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance (g s), and mesophyll intercellular carbon dioxide concentration were gradually reduced. Maximal photochemical efficiency, photochemical quenching, and quantum yield also decreased. However, the initial fluorescence and nonphotochemical quenching gradually increased. Chloroplasts swelled owing to local plasmolysis and lost most of their starch content, and their thylakoid lamellae gradually became disordered and loosely packed. When the chloroplast envelope was lost under high Pb stress (≥1000 mg kg−1), lipid globules were released into the surrounding mesophyll cell. Multiple regression analysis showed that g s and inactivity of the PSII reaction center had the greatest effect on photosynthetic function, whereas inhibition of electron transport had minimal effects on black locust seedlings under Pb stress.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Science & Technology Pillar Program during the 12th Five-Year Plan Period (2015BAD07B0103) and the Science and Technology Project of Henan Province, China (162102110133).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Institute of Science and Technology of Henan, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China

    Jian Zhou, Jie Ma & Lifeng Yang

  2. Research Institute of Forestry Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China

    Jian Zhou, Zeping Jiang, Jie Ma & Yuan Wei

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  1. Jian Zhou
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Correspondence to Yuan Wei.

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Responsible editor: Yi-ping Chen

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Zhou, J., Jiang, Z., Ma, J. et al. The effects of lead stress on photosynthetic function and chloroplast ultrastructure of Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 10718–10726 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8713-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8713-2

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