Photosynthetica 2017, 55(1):50-57 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-016-0220-z

Low doses of Pb affected Lactuca sativa photosynthetic performance

S. Silva1,*, G. Pinto2, C. Santos3
1 Department of Biology, CESAM and QOPNA, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
2 Department of Biology and CESAM, Laboratory of Fungal & Plant Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences & GreenUP/Citab-UP University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

The effects of soil and water contamination by lead (Pb) and the consequences on plant growth and yield are of great concern worldwide. Limits of the Pb concentration in water have been established by governmental institutions but these differ from each other. In this study, Lactuca sativa (var. Reine de Mai) plants were exposed to low Pb(NO3)2 doses (0.05-20 mg L-1), including the recommended limit values for irrigation water by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). After 28 d of exposure, lettuce plants did not present visible morphological alterations or growth impairment, but CO2 assimilation rate (P N), photochemical quenching, and effective quantum efficiency of PSII were negatively affected, while intercellular CO2 concentration, stomatal conductance, or transpiration rate were not influenced. Our results suggested that limitations on photosynthesis occurred from different reasons than due to the decrease of internal CO2 availability, alterations of photophosphorylation, and/or electron transport rate. Thus, this lettuce cultivar showed photosynthetic susceptibility to low doses of Pb, even at lower concentrations than those maximal allowed for irrigation water by FAO. Furthermore, P N seemed to be the most sensitive biomarker for evaluation of Pb susceptibility.

Keywords: abiotic stress; chlorophyll fluorescence; gas exchange; phytotoxicity; toxic metal

Received: September 3, 2015; Accepted: March 8, 2016; Published: March 1, 2017Show citation

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Silva, S., Pinto, G., & Santos, C. (2017). Low doses of Pb affected Lactuca sativa photosynthetic performance. Photosynthetica, 55(1), 50-57. doi: 10.1007/s11099-016-0220-z.
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