Effects of SO2 on photosynthesis and ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase in pine tree seedlings |
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Authors: | Jan-Erik Hä llgren,Kerstin Gezelius |
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Affiliation: | Dept. of Plant Physiology, UmeåUniv., S-901 87, Sweden. |
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Abstract: | Fumigations of 4–7 week old seelings of Pinus silvestris , with ca 400 μg SO2 m-3 for 4–5 days resulted in a decrease both in net photosynthetic rate and in the levels of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase activity of the primary needles. The effect on net photosynthesis was reversible. No visible damages were observed on the needles. Lower concentrations, ca 200 μg SO2 m-3, for ca 6 days inhibited net photosynthesis reversibly. The effect on net photosynthesis was not the result of stomata closure or of increased respiration. A dose-response relation for the inhibition of net photosynthesis and ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase is suggested. A similar relation was observed for the chlorophyll content of the needles. The reversible inhibition of photosynthesis was evident only at high quantum flux density, and the quantum yield of photosynthesis at rate limiting quantum flux was not affected. This was also suggested from an experiment with Scots pine in the field. |
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Keywords: | Pinus silvestris. L. Scots pine SO2-inhibition quantum yield chlorophyll |
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