| Abstract: | The effects of phthalate esters on chlorophyll a2 fluorescencein radish plants (Raphanus sativus L. cv. Cherry Belle) wereexamined Fluorescence yield was increased in those plants exposedto an aerial concentration of 120 ng dm–3 dibutyl phthaiatc(DBP) at a rate of 3.0 dm3 min–1 for 13 d. Comparisonof fluorescence enhancement ratios and Fred/Fox, suggests thatDBP inhibits photosynthesis in radish plants at a site afterQA. Both DBP and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) strongly inhibiteduncoupled (PS2+PS1) electron transport rates in thylakoids isolatedfrom spinach. At a chlorophyll concentration of 10 µgcm–3 the concentrations of DBP and DIBP exhibiting 50%inhibition were 44 mmol m–3 and 42 mmol m–3 respectively.Basal electron transport rates were also inhibited, with 87mmol m–3 of DBP or DIBP producing 50% inhibition. Measurementof photosystcm 1 activity suggested that the main site of actionof these phthalates was localized at a site near the reducingside of photosystem 2. Key words: Phthalate, plasticiser, chlorophyll, fluorescence, photosynthesis, inhibition |
