• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.257-264
• /
• 2007

Over-expression of a copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/ZnSOD) resulted in substantially increased tolerance to cadmium exposure in Arabidopsis thaliana. Lower lipid peroxidation and $H_2O_2$ accumulation and the higher activities of $H_2O_2$ scavenging enzymes, including catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in transformants (CuZnSOD-tr) compared to untransformed controls (wt) indicated that oxidative stress was the key factor in cadmium tolerance. Although progressive reductions in the dark-adapted photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) and quantum efficiency yield were observed with increasing cadmium levels, the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were less marked in CuZnSOD-tr than in wi. These observations indicate that oxidative stress in the photosynthetic apparatus is a principal cause of Cd-induced phytotoxicity, and that Cu/ZnSOD plays a critical role in protection against Cd-induced oxidative stress.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.481-485
• /
• 2005

The response of Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis to high salt stress was investigated by incubating the cells in light of moderate intensity in the presence of 0.8 M NaCl. NaCl caused a decrease in photosystem II (PSII) mediated oxygen evolution activity and increase in photosystem I (PSI) activity and the amount of P700. Similarly maximal efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) and variable fluorescence (Fv/Fo) were also declined in salt-stressed cells. Western blot analysis reveal that the inhibition in PSII activity is due to a 40% loss of a thylakoid membrane protein, known as D1, which is located in PSII reaction center. NaCl treatment of cells also resulted in the alterations of other thylakoid membrane proteins: most prominently, a dramatic diminishment of the 47-kDa chlorophyll protein (CP) and 94-kDa protein, and accumulation of a 17-kDa protein band were observed in SDS-PAGE. The changes in 47-kDa and 94-kDa proteins lead to the decreased energy transfer from light harvesting antenna to PSII, which was accompanied by alterations in the chlorophyll fluorescence emission spectra of whole cells and isolated thylakoids. Therefore we conclude that salt stress has various effects on photosynthetic electron transport activities due to the marked alterations in the composition of thylakoid membrane proteins.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.203-213
• /
• 2024

In this study, we investigated the growth and physiological responses of Iris laevigata Fisch. to shading treatments in order to suggest optimal light conditions for ex-situ conservation of the northern lineage plants. For this purpose, a control plant receiving full sunlight and different shading treatments (50%, 75%, 95%) were installed, and leaf mass per area, chlorophyll content and fluorescence response, and photosynthetic characteristics were investigated. I. laevigata developed leaves with higher photosynthetic efficiency to adapt to lower light intensity as shading levels increased. Chlorophyll content increased with increasing shading levels, and leaf mass per area decreased with increasing leaf area. The chlorophyll fluorescence responses Fv/Fm and NPQ did not change with shading, and the activity of the carbon fixation system did not differ between treatments. I. laevigata exhibited a light-saturation point equivalent to that of sun plants and maintained photosynthetic capacity similar to that of controls up to 75% shading. The apparent quantum yield of I. laevigata decreased significantly at 95% shading, indicating adaptation to lower light conditions. It seems that the photosynthetic capacity of I. laevigata decreases when grown under 95% shading level compared to full sunlight, and it is judged that the longer the light is restricted by continuous shading, the more unfavorable the growth will be.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
• /
• 2000.11c
• /
• pp.770-776
• /
• 2000

This paper represents our efforts to diagnose nutrient stresses using physiological instruments in cucumber plants. The stresses could be detected by measuring and analyzing the difference of chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiency(Fv/Fm), differential temperature(DT), stomatal resistance and light absorbance values between deficient and controlled plants. From the all over experiments, the stresses could be first diagnosed in the 8th day after treatment and the overall diagnosis rate was estimated at more than 50%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
• /
• 2000.11c
• /
• pp.736-743
• /
• 2000

This paper represents our efforts to diagnose environmental stresses using physiological instruments in cucumber plants. The stresses could be detected by measuring and analyzing the difference of chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiency(Fv/Fm), differential temperature(DT), stomatal resistance and light absorbance values between treated and controlled plants. From the all over experiments, the stresses could be first diagnosed on the 1st to 5th day after treatment and the overall diagnosis rate was estimated at more than 50%.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.98-106
• /
• 2012

The chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic $CO_2$ fixation capacity of leaves from three major crop trees found on Jeju Island, Camellia sinensis L., Camellia japonica L., and Citrus unshiu M., were analyzed. The photosynthetic $CO_2$ fixation rate of C. sinensis was similar to that of C. unshiu, and much higher than that of C. japonica which belongs to the same genus. Stomatal conductance in the three species was high at dawn and low during daytime. The intercellular $CO_2$ concentration of the three species was also high at dawn and decreased at midday. The transpiration rate showed an opposite trend from the intercellular $CO_2$ concentration. The photochemical efficiencies of PSII (Fv/Fm) in C. sinensis were slightly lower at midday compared to the level at dawn and/or dusk. The decline in Fv/Fm of C. sinensis at midday was much smaller than that of C. japonica. These results indicate that C. sinensis is better acclimated to high levels of radiation under natural conditions in late summer, although its PSII reaction center was inhibited by strong radiation. Of the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in the species, the RC/CS decreased significantly while the ABS/RC, TRo/RC, ETo/RC, and DIo/RC increased significantly at midday in late summer. However, C. unshiu did not show significant changes in these values depending on the time of day. Among the three species, the daily $CO_2$ fixation rate in C. sinensis ($320.1mmol\;m^{-2}d^{-1}$) was the highest, followed by that of C. unshiu ($292.5mmol\;m^{-2}d^{-1}$) and C. japonica ($244.8mmol\;m^{-2}d^{-1}$). Thus, C. sinensis may be a valuable crop tree in terms of the uptake of $CO_2$ under natural field conditions.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.57 no.2
• /
• pp.61-74
• /
• 2024

Daemadeung, located in the estuary of the Nakdong River, is formed by sand dunes and possesses well-developed intertidal flats. This study aimed to investigate the habitat of benthic microalgae, photosynthetic pigments, and photosynthetic efficiency in the intertidal flats of Daemadeung from January to December 2011. The inorganic nitrogen content in the sediment pore water was primarily composed of ammonium, while nitrate + nitrite was dominant in the upper layer water. The concentration of chlorophyll a and fucoxanthin in the sediment surface was significantly higher than the mean of all the sediment layer. The average Fv/Fm of benthic microalgae during the entire survey period was 0.52±0.03, with the highest value (0.61±0.08) observed in February. The rETR_max showed a seasonal trend, being high from spring to early autumn (April to October) and low from winter to early spring (January to March, November, December), with the highest value (153.05±2.30 µmol electrons m^-2 s^-1) in July and the lowest (38.49±5.17 µmol electrons m^-2 s^-1) in January. The average Fv/Fm of diurnal microalgae was 0.48±0.03, with the highest value (0.61±0.08) observed at noon. The rETR_max showed a highest peak at noon (54.24±11.35 µmol electrons m^-2 s^-1) and reached its lowest point at 16:00 (26.17±4.75 µmol electrons m^-2 s^-1). These findings suggest that the productivity of benthic microalgae varies significantly depending on the survey time and sediment depth. Therefore, to quantify the productivity of benthic microalgae using Diving-PAM, surveys should be conducted based on tidal conditions, and simultaneous pigment analysis of sediment layers should also be performed.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.69 no.1
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2024

High soil salinity is the most severe threat to global rice production as it causes a significant decline in rice yield. Here, we investigated the effects of various plant extracts on rice plant stress associated with high salinity. Additionally, we examined various physiological and biochemical parameters such as growth, photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll content, and lipid peroxidation - in rice plants after treatment with selected plant extracts under salt stress conditions. Of the 11 extracts tested, four - soybean leaf, soybean stem, moringa (Moringa oleifera), and Undaria pinnatifida extracts - were found to effectively reduce salt stress. A reduction of only 3-23% in shoot fresh weight was observed in rice plants under salt stress that were treated with these extracts, compared to the 43% reduction observed in plants that were exposed to stress but not given plant extract treatments (control plants). The effectiveness varied with the concentration of the plant extracts. Water content was higher in rice plants treated with the extracts than in the control plants after 6 d of salt stress, but not after 4 d of salt stress. Although photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm), electron transport rate (ETR), and the content of pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoid) varied based on the types and levels of stress and the extracts that the rice plants were treated with, generally, photosynthetic efficiency and pigment content were higher in the treated rice compared to control plants. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and malondialdehyde (MDA), increased as the duration of stress increased. ROS and MDA levels were lower in the treated rice than in the control plants. Proline and soluble sugar accumulation also increased with the duration of the stress period. However, proline and soluble sugar accumulation were lower in the treated rice than in the control plants. Generally, the values of all the parameters investigated in this study were similar, regardless of the plant extract used to treat the rice plants. Thus, the extracts found to be effective can be used to alleviate the adverse effects of stress on rice crops associated with high-salinity soils.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.327-334
• /
• 2014

Light intensity is one of the most important requirements for plant growth, affecting growth, development, survival, and crop productivity. Sunlight is the main energy source on Earth which is energy used by photosynthesis to convert light energy to chemical energy. In this study, the light use efficiency and photosynthetic characteristics of high-quality rice cultivars were evaluated after shading on ripening stage. For the study, we treated of three levels of shade (0, 50 and 70%) on rice at ripening stage and two levels of nitrogen (9 and 18 kg/10a) used three high yielding rice cultivars, such as Boramchan, Hopum, and Honong. The shade was given for the respective plots from heading up to harvesting. We were performed to determine growth survey, SPAD and chlorophyll fluorescence every 10 days interval after shading on ripening stage. At harvest stage, grain yield and yield components were determined. Results of analysis of the results representing the maximum photosynthetic efficiency of PSII, Fv/Fm, and SPAD were decreased by depending on the time at full sunlight. But shade treatments were not changed and a significant difference among cultivars did not appear. Compared with the full sunlight, shade treatments significantly delayed ripening rate and decreased rice quality of cultivated rice. Therefore, rice yield, can be reduced in proportion to the shading density is apparent, the rate of decrease was not observed difference between varieties, when protected from light 70%, and decreased to less than 50%. The adverse effects of low light intensity on the yield and yield components were not able to significantly minimize by the nitrogen level.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.45-54
• /
• 2024

A proper level of UV-A light treatment in terms of intensity, spectrum, and exposure duration is known to have a positive impact on plant growth, photosynthesis, and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. However, there are few studies investigating the physiological responses of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) to UV radiation. Hence, this study aimed to assess the effects of short-term UV-A radiation on the growth and bioactive compounds of spinach. Spinach seedlings were cultivated in a vertical farm module under the following environmental conditions: photosynthetic photon flux density 200 µmol·m^-2·s^-1, white LED, 12 h on/off, 20℃ air temperature, 70% relative humidity, and 500 µmol·mol^-1 CO₂ concentration. After 5 weeks of sowing, the seedlings were subjected to continuous UV-A (peak wavelength; 385 nm) irradiation at two different energy levels: 20 W·m^-2 and 40 W·m^-2 for 7 days. As a result, the UV-A_20W treatment increased the shoot fresh and dry weights of spinach. However, there were no significant differences observed in photosynthetic parameters between the UV-A treatments and the control. The maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) consistently decreased across all UV-A treatments for 7 days in UV-A treatments. Additionally, the total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity increased in the UV-A_20W treatment at 7 days of treatment as well as the total flavonoid content significantly increased at 5 and 7 days of treatment. These findings suggest that supplemental UV-A LED radiation can enhance the growth and quality of spinach cultivated in closed type plant production systems such as vertical farms.