Effects of aluminium on photosynthetic performance in Al-sensitive and Al-tolerant maize inbred lines

Abstract

Maize plant inbred lines, one Al-sensitive (B-73) and two Al-tolerant (F-2 and L-2039), were grown hydroponically in the presence of 200 µM Al. After 13 d of growth, root and shoot lengths, photosystem 2 (PS2) activity, chlorophyll (Chl) content, 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) synthesis rate, chlorophyllase (Chlase) activity, and N, Mg, Fe, and Mn contents in leaves were determined. PS2 activity and Chl content were most severely affected by Al in B-73, but F-2 was almost unaffected. This was in accordance with Al-accumulation in the plants. The observed changes in B-73 coincided with 5-ALA synthesis inhibition, Chlase activation, and leaf deprivation of Fe and Mg. In Al-treated L-2039 plants, the leaf Mg and Mn contents were decreased. Also, an excessive Chlase activation was found in Al-treated L-2039, without a substantial Chl loss. This may indicate the activation of different enzyme pools in tolerant and sensitive genotypes under low-stress conditions.

Spatial variation of eco-physiological parameters in the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea transplanted in an area surrounding a cement plant (S Italy)

“…Iron, vanadium and aluminium are known to promote both lipid peroxidation (Halliwell and Gutteridge 2007;Russanov et al 1994) and pigment degradation (Wolterbeek et al 2003). V and Al are also effective inhibitors of chlorophyll biosynthesis (Madejon 2013;Mihailovic et al 2008) while Al and Fe can depress carotenoid levels in lichens (Bačkor and Fahlset 2004) and plants (Azmat and Hasan 2008).…”

The effect of chromium and aluminum on growth, root morphology, photosynthetic parameters and transpiration of the two barley cultivars

“…Al inhibits root growth and elongation by different mechanisms, including Al interactions within symplast, plasma membrane and cell wall (Kochian 1995, Pineros and Kochian 2001, Yang et al 2008. Several studies revealed that Al stress decreased net photosynthetic rate (PN) and chlorophyll (Chl) content in tomato (Simon et al 1994), maize (Lidon et al 1999, Mihailovic et al 2008, Citrus spp. , Chen et al 2005a, and soybean ).…”

Local wind monitoring matched with lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf transplantation technique to assess the environmental impact of a biomass power plant

“…Due to the nature of the geological substrates of the Sila plateau (siliceous-acidic rocks), P. furfuracea (L.) Zopf thalli showed in both cases a slight enrichment in aluminum (above 1000 µg/g dry weight), an element that when hydroponically given to inbred lines of maize resulted in an activation of chlorophyllase (Mihailovic, 2008). This enzyme promotes the first step of chlorophyll a degradation by converting it into chlorophyllide a, while in the second step chlorophyllide a changes into pheophorbide a via magnesium-dechelatase activity (Tang et al, 2000).…”