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Influence of air pollutants and nutrient deficiency on D‐1 protein content and photosynthesis in young spruce trees
Author(s) -
Lütz C.,
Steiger A.,
Godde D.
Publication year - 1992
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.1399-3054.1992.tb04762.x
Subject(s) - fumigation , photosynthesis , chemistry , photosystem ii , pollutant , potassium , photosystem , ozone , nutrient , botany , photosynthetic capacity , environmental chemistry , horticulture , biology , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Long‐term fumigation with different mixtures of air pollutants, such as O 3 , NO 2 and SO 2 , in combination with potassium deficiency in 4‐year‐old spruce trees shows clearly that the photosynthetic apparatus reacts very sensitively to environmental stress. Even when no change in photosynthetic oxygen evolution of the leaves was measurable, the content of D‐1 protein in the reaction center of photosystem II already increased significantly at low stress conditions. With increasing concentrations of pollutants, the content of D‐1 protein decreased considerably. This pattern was observed with all combinations of gases, although they differed in effectiveness. The most potent effect on the content of D‐1 protein was found with a combined fumigation of SO 2 plus NO 2 . Obviously, the ratio between synthesis and degradation of the D‐1 protein is influenced by stress factors. However, the content of D‐1 protein was not strongly correlated with photosynthetic oxygen evolution in whole needles nor with electron transport rate in isolated thylakoids. Under controlled potassium deficiency, effects similar to those observed upon ozone fumigation developed. The results suggest unspecific stress answers for the D‐1 content and the photosynthetic reactions rather than specific responses.