Toxic effects of high copper content on physiological processes in Pinus sylvestris L

• Published in: Photosynthetica Vol. 55; no. 1; pp. 193 - 200
• Main Authors: Możdżeń, K., Wanic, T., Rut, G., Łaciak, T., Rzepka, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Praha The Institute of Experimental Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences 01.03.2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Brief Communication; Carbon dioxide; Chlorophyll; conifer needles; Copper; Electrolyte leakage; electrolytes; Environmental quality; Environmental surveys; Evergreen trees; Fluorescence; Gas exchange; growth retardation; Leakage; Life Sciences; Moisture content; Organs; Oxygen; Oxygen production; Photosynthesis; Physiological effects; Physiology; Pine; Pine needles; Pine trees; Pinus sylvestris; Plant Physiology; Quenching; shoots; soil; surveys; toxicity; Water content; growth analysis; respiration; photosynthesis; chlorophyll fluorescence
• DOI: 10.1007/s11099-016-0229-3
• ISSN: 0300-3604

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of increased copper contents on selected physiological processes in oneyear-old Pinus sylvestris L. needles from a former German timber storage area in Warcino Forest District, a subject to an environmental quality survey. Samples were collected from the area with the high copper content in the soil. The control area was a nearby pine tree stand showing unimpeded growth. The significant growth inhibition was found in dwarf shoots and whole needles, increased water content, and reduced dry mass were also observed. The chlorophyll content was lowered, while 20% higher electrolyte leakage was found. Chlorophyll a fluorescence indicated only higher values of the nonphotochemical quenching in P. sylvestris from the Cu-site. Significant differences were shown in the rate of gas exchange measured by changes in carbon dioxide or oxygen concentration. The intensity of photosynthesis in needles of P. sylvestris from the Cu-site measured by CO 2 uptake was considerably higher than that of oxygen production. The rate of respiration in the needles from the Cu-site measured by the amount of released CO 2 was higher only by 15%, while according to O 2 consumed, the rate increased by 30% in relation to the control. Our results suggest that the copper accumulation in P. sylvestris needles affected the morphology and physiology of the studied organs.