Humic substances (HS) are the most important natural biostimulant of plants. However, the relationship between their structure and biological activity in plants is still not well recognized. The objective of this paper was to assess the influence of molecular fractions of humic acids (HA) (HA < 30 kDa and HA > 30 kDa) on reducing negative effects of drought stress in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) seedlings of Progres and Nawiko cultivars. Drought stress was induced in laboratory conditions by the addition of polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000) to make a water potential of −0.5 MPa. HA were extracted according to the International Humic Substances Society procedure, and then were separated into two molecular fractions by membrane filtration. The following physiological and biometric parameters were determined: chlorophyll content, photosynthesis activity, electrical conductivity, fresh and dry mass of overground and roots, and plant length. The enzyme activity and ion contents were also measured. Differences in response to drought stress with the addition of HA < 30 kDa and HA > 30 kDa or not to the Hoagland’s solution were observed among studied cultivars. Drought stress caused a decrease in the most physiological parameters and increase in peroxidase activity in the case of both studied cultivars. However, the results of biometric measurements showed that the Progres cultivar appears to have better tolerance to drought stress. The significant influence of water deficit on most macroelement content in dry matter leaves of both studied cultivars was not observed, while its effect on microelement uptake by soybean plants was concluded. In the case of the Progres cultivar, the results showed a significant decrease in microelement content in the dry matter of leaves, whereas in the leaves of Nawiko cultivar there was a significant increase. The influence of HA > 30 kDa and HA < 30 KDa fractions on physiological features of both studied cultivars was varied. HA > 30 kDa fraction better up-regulated the antioxidant defense system. Unfortunately, no effect of either HA fraction on the macro- and micronutrients uptake system of both studied cultivars was observed.

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Dar) leaves exposed to UV-B irradiation at a biologically effective dose of 9.5 kJ m -2 d -1 showed decreased chlorophyll fluorescence parameter values versus the control; in peppermint (Mentha piperita L. cv. Asia) leaves those values were almost unchanged after treatment. F v /F o and Rfd were reduced more than other values, indicating inhibition of the oxygen-evolving complex and cooperation between the light and dark photosynthesis reactions as the primary targets of UV-B. The photosynthetic electron transport rate showed less change directly after irradiation, but after 24 h of recovery it was reduced to 50% of the control. Generally, photosystem II of peppermint leaves appeared more tolerant to the applied UV-B radiation than in cucumber leaves.K Ke ey y w wo or rd ds s: : Cucumber, primary photosynthesis reactions, peppermint, ultraviolet-B.

Ultraviolet-B radiation (biologically effective dose 2.6 kJ m -2 d -1 ) had negative influence on morphology and physiology of the young triticale plants. Plants exposed to UV-B were of lower height than control plants, their leaves were narrow, and the rate of net photosynthesis was decreased. The line RAH 336, which wax cover is lesser than that of traditional cultivar Magnat, was more susceptible to UV-B radiation, considering primary photosynthesis reactions, recorded by chlorophyll a fluorescence. An activation of protective mechanisms was observed: plants responded to UV-B by an increase of the content of UV-B absorbing compounds, and changes of antioxidant enzyme activities.Additional key words: antioxidant enzymes, catalase, chlorophyll fluorescence, net photosynthetic rate, peroxidase, Triticosecale.

The effect of the organometallic compounds containing lead, (C6H5)3PbCl , and tin, (C6H5)3SnCl, on Chlorella green algae photosystem II was studied. Suspension of the algae treated with (C6H5)3SnCl at concentrations of 1.0 and 4.0 micromol dm(-3) for 22 h revealed a decrease in most physiological parameters studied, particularly in decasecond component of delayed chlorophyll luminescence, photosynthetic electron transport rate and diluted oxygen concentration, which implies an inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport as well as oxygen evolving system. On the other hand, (C6H5)3PbCl caused stronger inhibition than (C6H5)3SnCl, particularly in the higher concentration.

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