Photosynthetica 2018, 56(4):1249-1258 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-018-0827-3

Zinc accumulation, photosynthetic gas exchange, and chlorophyll a fluorescence in Zn-stressed Miscanthus × giganteus plants

G. Andrejić1,3, G. Gajić2, M. Prica1, Ž. Dželetović3, T. Rakić1,*
1 Department of Plant Ecology and Phytogeography, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
2 Department of Ecology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
3 Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, University of Belgrade, Zemun, Serbia

Accumulation and distribution of zinc within Miscanthus × giganteus plants grown on elevated Zn concentrations and their photosynthetic performance were investigated. High concentrations of Zn in soils caused an increase of its concentrations in all plant organs. The bioconcentration factor, bioaccumulation factor, and translocation factor were lower than one indicating that M. × giganteus is an excluder plant species. Excessive Zn induced visible leaf damage, i.e. chlorosis and necrosis, only in the oldest leaves, pointing to Zn accumulation. Elevated amounts of Zn in leaves significantly lowered the photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentrations, parameters of chlorophyll a fluorescence, and chlorophyll b content. Despite Zn excess in leaves, there was no severe reduction in the maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, indicating a high photosynthetic capacity, high tolerance to elevated Zn concetrations, and ability of M. × giganteus to grow on Zn-contaminated soils.

Keywords: pigments; photosynthesis; phytoremediation; Zn tolerance

Received: August 31, 2017; Accepted: January 10, 2018; Prepublished online: December 1, 2018; Published: November 1, 2018Show citation

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Andrejić, G., Gajić, G., Prica, M., Dželetović, Ž., & Rakić, T. (2018). Zinc accumulation, photosynthetic gas exchange, and chlorophyll a fluorescence in Zn-stressed Miscanthus × giganteus plants. Photosynthetica, 56(4), 1249-1258. doi: 10.1007/s11099-018-0827-3.
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