Cadmium and lead effects on chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll pigments and proline of Robinia pseudoacacia

Abstract

Heavy metal contamination is one of the most important abiotic stresses affecting physiological activities of plants. We investigated the effects of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) on chlorophyll fluorescence (F_v/F_m, F_o, and F_m), photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and b), and proline in one-year-old seedlings of Robinia pseudoacacia. The seedlings were treated twice over a period of 10 days with Cd and Pb at concentrations of 0, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg L⁻¹. Saline solution containing Cd and Pb was sprayed on the leaves. Chlorophyll and proline contents were measured after 10 days. Chlorophyll fluorescence of R. pseudoacacia was affected slightly by high concentrations (1000, 2000 mg L⁻¹) of Cd and Pb. Chlorophyll a and a/b increased at 1000 and 2000 mg L⁻¹ of Cd and proline content of leaves was similar in all treatments of Cd and Pb. Our results indicated that photosynthetic sensitivity of R. pseudoacacia to Cd and Pb contamination was weak. Photosystem II chlorophyll pigments were not damaged by Pb and Cd stress. We conclude that chlorophyll fluorescence along with chlorophyll and proline contents are useful indicators of Cd and Pb stresses in R. pseudoacacia which widely planted in urban polluted regions in Iran.

Keywords

Robinia pseudoacacia / Cadmium / Lead / Chlorophyll fluorescence / Chlorophyll / Proline

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