Effects of cadmium stress on the antioxidant system and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics of two Taxodium clones.

KEY MESSAGE: The T.118 and T.406 seedlings showed strong adaptability under Cd concentrations ≤ 50 µM. The mechanisms of photoprotection in T.118 and T.406 differed in high-Cd concentrations. To explore the physiological response characteristics of Taxodium hybrids to cadmium (Cd) stress and provide basis for screening of Cd-tolerant species, the hydroponic cultivation of T.118 and T.406 seedlings was conducted to demonstrate the effects of Cd stress on seedling growth, antioxidant system, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. After 35 days of Cd stress at a concentration ≤ 50 µM, the dry weight biomass of the two clones did not significantly differ from that of the control. T.406 exhibited a significant increase in POD activity compared to T.118 and maintained high SOD activity after exposure to high concentrations of Cd, whereas MDA levels showed little changes. Under low-Cd stress, chlorophyll content and fluorescence parameters remained stable, especially for T.406. Under high-Cd concentration stress, the above parameters were lower than the control, with a more significant decrease in T.118 than in T.406. The non-photochemical quenching coefficient (NPQ) of both clones increased with increasing Cd concentration. T.118 showed a greater increase than T.406, particularly under high-Cd concentration stress. The T.118 and T.406 seedlings adapted to low-Cd concentration stress by enhancing their antioxidant enzyme activity to maintain the balance of reactive oxygen metabolism and reduce cellular damage. The photochemical activity of mesophyll cells remained high to maintain photosynthetic capacity and normal seedling growth. T.406 showed stronger resistance to Cd than T.118. T.406 prevented photodamage by promoting the photochemical utilization of the excitation energy and maintaining a strong antioxidant stress ability. Enhancement of heat dissipation capability may be the main photoprotection mechanism of T.118.

[Effects of perchlorate on growth and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of Alternanthera philoxeroides].

Perchlorate is a new emerging persistent pollutant, while no studies about its effects on plants have been reported both home and abroad. In order to explore the effects of perchlorate on growth and physiology of aquatic plant, Alternanthera philoxeroides were treated by 1/20 Hoagland nutrient solution with different concentrations (0, 1, 5, 20, 100, 500 mg/L) of ClO4- under the controlled conditions. The results showed as follow. (1) Under perchlorate treatment, relative growth yield,dry weight of root,shoot and leaves were inhibited at different degrees, in which root biomass under different treatments showed significant difference to the control. After treatment for 40 d, relative growth yield of different treatments at concentration from 1 mg/L to 500 mg/L were about 61.6%, 60.8%, 53.1%, 20.4% and 3.3% separately of the control. And the order of variation coefficients of biomass in different organ were as follows: leaf > root biomass > stem; the relationship of biomass allocation in different organs of Alternanthera philoxeroides under perchlorate treatment changed, and the proportion of stem biomass increased,while leaf decreased, in which 100 and 500 mg/L ClO4- treatment showed significant difference to the control. (2) Under perchlorate treatment, young leaves of Alternanthera philoxeroides presented injury symptoms (such as parietal roiling reversely, leaf edge getting black and withered etc), and the damaged degree of Alternanthera philoxeroides increased with the increase of treatment concentration and time. (3) Under perchlorate treatment, the relative chlorophyll content (SPAD value), primary maximal PSII efficiency(Fv/Fm), efficiency of excitation capture by open PSII centre (F'v,/F'm), actual photochemical efficiency of PSII (phi(PS II)), electron transport rate (ETR), maximal electron transport rate(ETR ,) and other indexes were inhibited at different degrees. SPAD and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (phi(PS II)) etc. could be used as sensitive physiological indexes to reflect the effects of perchlorate stress. The results suggest that perchlorate treatment can damage the photosynthetic system and leaf, decrease photochemical efficiency, and inhibit growth of Alternanthera philoxeroides. Leaf and root show a higher sensitivity to perchlorate,while stem with a lower sensitivity.

[Effects of silicon on photosynthetic characteristics of Indocalamus barbatus under simulated acid rain stress].

With Indocalamus barbatus as test material, the effects of silicon on the relative content of chlorophyll, diurnal variations of photosynthesis, and chlorophyll fluorescence were examined under simulated acid rain (pH 3.0) stress. The results showed that under acid rain stress, 20 and 500 mg x L(-1) of Na2SiO3 could prohibit the decrease of the relative content of chlorophyll to some extent; 100 mg x L(-1) of Na2SiO3 could get best effect, with the relative chlorophyll content being 22.7% higher than the control; while 500 mg x L(-1) of Na2SiO3 didn't have any effect. Under the stress, the midday depression of photosynthesis became more serious. The average daily net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal limitation value (Ls), and stomata conductance (Gs) were all decreased significantly, while the intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) increased. After treated with 20-100 mg x L(-1) of Na2SiO3, the Pn, Ls, and Gs increased to some extent while Ci decreased, and 100 mg x L(-1) of Na2SiO3 was most effective, with the average daily Pn increased by 39.2%. The maximum fluorescence of dark adaptation (Fm), maximal photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), potential activity (Fv/Fo), effective photochemical efficiency (Fv'/Fm'), maximum fluorescence of light adaptation (Fm') of PSII, photochemical quenching (qp), non-photochemical quenching (qN), and actual photochemical efficiency of PSII (PhiPSII) were all decreased obviously under simulated acid rain stress, but the minimum fluorescence of dark adaptation (Fo) and the minimum fluorescence of light adaptation (Fo') increased. 100 mg x L(-1) of Na2SiO3 could restrain the changes of fluorescence parameters obviously, with the Fv/Fm, Fv/Fo, Fv'/Fm' and PhiPSII increased by 35.2%, 146.2%, 55.0% and 24.3%, respectively, compared with the control. It was suggested that applying appropriate concentration of exogenous silicon to I. barbatus could efficiently relieve the decrease of its photosynthetic activity and the damage of its photosynthetic system caused by acid rain, and thus, improve its photosynthetic ability under the stress.