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Effects of di‐ n ‐butyl phthalate on growth and photosynthesis in algae and on isolated organelles from higher plants
Author(s) -
Melin Christina,
Egnéus Hans
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1983.tb04230.x
Subject(s) - photosynthesis , selenastrum , algae , phthalate , chlorophyta , hordeum vulgare , electron transport chain , botany , chemistry , biology , poaceae , organic chemistry
Di‐ n ‐butyl phthalate (DBF) is widely used as a plasticizer and has been found in all types of ecosystems. It inhibits growth and photosynthesis of green algae ( Chlorella emersonii CCAP strain 211/8 h and Selenastrum capricornutum CCAP strain 278/4) at concentrations higher than 10‐ 5 M . The IC 50 value for CO 2 ‐dependent oxygen evolution in algae was 3 × 10 ‐4 M. The CO 2 ‐reduction in isolated protoplasts prepared from barley ( Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Simba) was also inhibited by phthalate. The IC 50 value was 2 × 10 ‐4 M . The electron transport in isolated thylakoids prepared from spinach was inhibited with an IC 50 value of 3 × 10 ‐4 M . The IC 50 value for uncoupled electron transport extrapolated to zero chlorophyll concentration was 2.5 × 10 ‐5 M . The effect of di‐n‐butyl phthalate was localized to reactions in photosystem II. Di‐n‐butyl phthalate could thus be a pollutant which affects growth and photosynthesis of plants. The reported IC 50 values may be underestimated since di‐ n ‐butyl phthalate can attach to surfaces. The results are discussed in relation to observed effects of di‐ n ‐butyl phthalate on other organisms.