Chlorophyll as a measure of plant health: Agroecological aspects

Abstract

SUMMARYAs photosynthesis is the basic process during which light energy is absorbed and converted into organic matter, the importance of the plant pigment chlorophyll (a and b forms) as an intermediary in transformation of the absorbed solar energy and its activity in the process of photosynthesis and synthesis of organic substances in plants are crucial. Therefore, this paper provides an overview of methods for monitoring the optical activity of chlorophyll molecules and methods (non-destructive and destructive) for quantification of chlorophyll in plants. These methods are used to estimate the effects of different stress factors (abiotic, biotic and xenobiotic) on the efficiency of photosynthesis and bioproductivity, aiming to assess the impact that these limiting factors have on the yield of various cultivars. Also, those methods for analysis of chlorophyll optical activity and/or content are appropriate for assessing the reaction of weed species to different agricultural practices (mineral nutrition, treatment by herbicides, etc.) and studies of different aspects of weed ecophysiology and their influence on crop harvest. Keywords: Chlorophylls; Photosynthesis; Plant health Abbreviations: LHCP 2 , LHCP 1 : antenna complexes in photosystems II and I with the main function of absorbing (sun)light quantum and converting it into excitation energy of chlorophyll molecules (excitons); PS II and PS I: photosystems II and I; RC: reaction centers of PS II and PS I with the function of transforming the energy of exciton into primary photochemical reaction

Bacterial Rhizoplane Colonization Patterns of Buchloe dactyloides Growing in Metalliferous Mine Tailings Reflect Plant Status and Biogeochemical Conditions

“…Chlorophyll level was used as a proxy for plant status at the time of sampling with high chlorophyll levels representing robust plants and low chlorophyll levels representing stressed plants (Table 2). Plant chlorophyll content has been shown to correspond to plant health within the same species [40]. The relative abundance of metabolically active bacteria on the rhizoplane was significantly higher for the plants with high chlorophyll levels compared to that of the plants with low chlorophyll levels (p < 0.05) (Table 2).…”

“…Plant canopy cover measurements were done in October 2013, 2 months after buffalo grass root and rhizosphere collections, for each Phase 1 field plot and Phase 3 row section from which a plant was harvested [36,37] by Gil-Loaiza et al [31]. Second, leaf chlorophyll levels were measured for each plant as an indication of individual plant stress [38,39,40] at the time of root and rhizosphere collection using a handheld portable chlorophyll meter (atLEAF; Wilmington, DE) which measures light transmittance. Values produced by the meter are unit-less indices [41, 42], in which higher measured values correspond to healthier plants within the same species [40].…”

“…Second, leaf chlorophyll levels were measured for each plant as an indication of individual plant stress [38,39,40] at the time of root and rhizosphere collection using a handheld portable chlorophyll meter (atLEAF; Wilmington, DE) which measures light transmittance. Values produced by the meter are unit-less indices [41, 42], in which higher measured values correspond to healthier plants within the same species [40]. …”

Plant growth promotion and chilli anthracnose disease suppression ability of rhizosphere soil actinobacteria

“…Pavlović et al . () in their review have explained the proportionate relationship of chlorophyll content to plant health and crop yield. Chlorophyll is one of the most important points of nitrogen accumulation.…”

Can Cynodon dactylon be used to suppress invasive weeds? The effects of density-dependent on the growth and development of Tagetes minuta and Gutenbergia cordifolia

“…Leaf chlorophyll content has been linked to plant health status [31] and, therefore, a crucial parameter to be assessed during plant growth and development. Leaf chlorophyll of T. minuta and G. cordifolia plants was extracted according to [32] with some modifications: 50 mg of fresh leaves of 2.25 cm 2 were immersed in 4 ml of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) and incubated at 65°C for 12 h. The extract was transferred to glass cuvettes for absorbance determination.…”