Delayed fluorescence imaging of photosynthesis inhibitor and heavy metal induced stress in potato

Abstract

Early chemical-induced stress in Solanum tuberosum leaves was visualized using delayed fluorescence (DF) imaging. The ability to detect spatially heterogeneous responses of plant leaves exposed to several toxicants using delayed fluorescence was compared to prompt fluorescence (PF) imaging and the standard maximum fluorescence yield of PSII measurements (Fv/Fm). The toxicants used in the study were two photosynthesis inhibitors (herbicides), 100 µM methyl viologen (MV) and 140 µM diuron (DCMU), and two heavy metals, 100 µM cadmium and 100 µM copper. The exposure times were 5 and 72 h. Significant photosynthesis-inhibitor effects were already visualized after 5 h. In addition, a significant reduction in the DF/PF index was measured in DCMU- and MV-treated leaves after 5 h. In contrast, only DCMU-treated leaves exhibited a significant decrease in Fv/Fm after 5 h. All treatments resulted in a significant decrease in the DF/PF parameter after 72 h of exposure, when only MV and Cd treatment resulted in visible symptoms. Our study highlights the power of delayed fluorescence imaging. Abundant quantifiable spatial information was obtained with the instrumental setup. Delayed fluorescence imaging has been confirmed as a very responsive and useful technique for detecting stress induced by photosynthesis inhibitors or heavy metals.

Impact of intraspecific competition on photosynthetic apparatus efficiency in potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants

“…This parameter decreases gradually with prolonged duration of the stressor. A similar effect was observed by Razinger et al (2012). However, according to Oukarroum et al (2007), evaluation of the efficiency of PSII exclusively on the basis of the Fv/Fm parameter is insufficient.…”

Soil Cu contamination destroys the photosynthetic systems and hampers the growth of green vegetables

“…Photosynthetic pigments: Heavy metals reduce accumulation of photosynthetic pigments (Rai et al 2016). At a cellular level, an excess of heavy metals can cause damage leading to the formation of reactive oxygen radicals or the interaction with proteins impairing key cellular processes (e.g., photosynthesis), inactivating enzymes, and disturbing protein structure (Rai et al 2016, Vilas et al 2016). Chl content is indicative of the plant metabolisms efficiency and health status, whereas Car plays a major role in photoprotection and defending plant cell from oxidative stress (Kopsell et al 2007).…”

“…The effect of metal(s) on plant has been widely reported, e.g., chromate on Spirodela polyrhiza (Susplugas et al 2000, Appenroth et al 2001, Cu on Oriza sativa (Xu et al 2006), Cu on Lemna minor (Razinger et al 2007), Cd, Cu on Lemna minor (Razinger et al 2010), Cd and Cu on Lemna minor (Razinger et al 2012), heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Ni, etc. ) on Wedelia trilobata (Lin et al 2012a) or Alternanthera philoxeroides (Lin et al 2012b), Cd on W. trilobata (Shi et al 2014), Pb on B. chinensis (Fu andWang 2015, Tang et al 2015).…”

“…It is also known that photosynthesis is inhibited by heavy metals, and PSII is considered as the main target of heavy metals (Susplugas et al 2000, Appenroth et al 2001. Chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence of plants changes after exposure to Cu (Razinger et al 2007(Razinger et al , 2010(Razinger et al , 2012.…”

Applications of Delayed Fluorescence from Photosystem II

“…It was thus concluded that DF-based technique could be a suitable general bioassay of metal contamination. Razinger et al studied heavy metal induced stress in potato leaves with DF imaging technique, which also highlighted the power of DF and confirmed DF imaging could be a very responsive and useful technique for detection of heavy metal pollution [ 80 ].…”