THE INFLUENCE OF AIR POLLUTION ON THE CONCENTRATION OF ATP AND ON CHLOROPHYLL DEGRADATION IN THE LICHEN, RAMALINA DURIAEI (DE NOT.) BAGL.

Abstract

SUMMARYThe most efficient of five methods used for the extraction of ATP from lichens was found to be the use of Tris4-EDTA after acetone treatment. Changes in the concentration of ATP in transplanted Ramalina duriaei (De Not.) Bagl. reflected the influence of air pollution on this lichen. The ATP concentration remained constant at a control station in a rural site, whilst at urban stations it decreased to 10% of the control value. Changes in the concentration of ATP were compared with chlorophyll degradation, as expressed by the ratio OD 435 nm/OD 415 nm. The values of this ratio also decreased in the urban sites, but less so than the ATP.

Manganese as a site factor for epiphytic lichens

“…Fe is required for the conversion of protoporphyrin IX into protochlorophyllid in chlorophyll bionsynthesis (HORST 1988, BEALE 1999. Mn-induced accumulation of protoporphyrin IX concomitant to a reduction of chlorophyll concentrations is known from cyanobacteria and vascular plants (CSATORDAY et al 1984, CLAIRMONT et al 1986 Previous studies of adenylate concentrations in lichens only referred to the ATP content (KARDISH et al 1987, SILBERSTEIN et al 1990 …”

“…In soils, HPLC was found to give more accurate results compared to enzymatic analysis with luciferin-luciferase (MARTENS 1992). The luciferin-luciferase system was used in previous analyses of the ATP content in lichens (KARDISH et al 1987;SILBERSTEIN et al 1990 KÖCK & SCHLEE (1981) in isolated cells of Trebouxia spec.…”

The Effect of Air Pollution on the Integrity of Chlorophyll, Spectral Reflectance Response, and on Concentrations of Nickel, Vanadium, and Sulfur in the LichenRamalina duriaei(De Not.) Bagl.

“…All curves have been offset vertically for clarity. Site numbers are as in Table 1. posure of R. duriaei in rural, suburban, and urban sites in central Israel Kardish et al, 1987) and in the vicinity of a steel smelter in the northwestern part of Israel . In comparison, Boonpragob and Nash (1991) used a 433 nm/415 nm OD ratio to estimate the impact of the Los Angeles urban environment on chlorophyll integrity of transplants of Ramalina menziesii and detected an increase of phaeophytins.…”

Impact of Heavy Metals on Water Loss from Lichen Thalli

“…Examination of patterns of K + flux across the plasma membrane may elucidate the ease with which metal ions transverse the plasma membrane and, conversely, the extent to which the plasma membrane presents an effective barrier to metal ion uptake. Ultrastructural study with the electron microscope revealed that Pb, Cu, and Zn are mostly accumulated over the surface layers of the cell wall but traces of supplied Cu and Zn were observed in the cytoplasm in Cladonia (the authors' observation), indicating that there is every possibility that these metals interfere with an enzyme(s) and ultimately affect metabolic activities and the energy budget (Kardish et al, 1987).Water loss from thalli is not a simple physical process, but is guided by the energy budget, which is necessary for running different physiological processes and also for conversion of water into water vapor. However, it was pointed out that a change in a single component of the energy exchange system changes the entire balance of the energy balance with water vapors (Slatyer, 1967).…”