Changes in the biochemical composition, structure, and function of pea leaf chloroplasts in iron deficiency and root anoxia

A combined effect of iron deficiency and root anoxia on the biochemical composition, function, and structure of pea leaf chloroplasts was studied. It was found that the chlorosis of apical leaves in response to iron deficiency was determined by the reduction of light-harvesting complexes I and II. Under root anoxia, complexes of the reaction centers of photosystems I and II degraded first. Weak activity was preserved even in yellow and white leaves under the effect of both factors. The ultrastructure of leaf chloroplasts gradually degraded. Initially, intergranal thylakoid sites were reduced, and the longitudinal orientation of grana was disturbed. However, yellow and white leaves still retained small thylakoids and grana. It is concluded that the degrading effects of iron deficiency and root anoxia on the complex composition and leaf chloroplast structure and function are additive because of their autonomous mechanisms.