Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2008, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (1): 161-167.DOI: 10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2008.01.018

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

EFFECTS OF NaCl AND Na2CO3 STRESSES ON PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND PARAMETERS OF CHLOROPHYLL FLUORESCENCE IN HELIANTHUS TUBEROSUS SEEDLINGS

XUE Yan-Feng, LIU Zhao-Pu*()   

  1. College of Resources and Environmental Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
  • Received:2006-06-12 Accepted:2006-10-19 Online:2008-06-12 Published:2008-01-30
  • Contact: LIU Zhao-Pu

Abstract:

Aims Our objective was to explore the effects of saline-alkali stress on photosynthetic apparatus of Helianthus tuberosus seedlings.
Methods H. tuberosus seedlings were treated with NaCl (50, 100, 150, 200, 250 mmol·L-1) and Na2CO3 (25, 50, 75, 100, 125 mmol·L-1) in plastic pots with sand. Others were cultured in modulated half-strength Hoagland solution as a control. We studied the effects of NaCl and Na2CO3 on net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence by measuring chlorophyll content, Pn, stomatal conductivity (Gs) and fluorescence parameters after 7 days.
Important findings Significant increases of chlorophyll content, Pn and Gs compared with the control were observed under the 150 mmol·L-1 NaCl treatment, whereas there were no effects on fluorescence parameters, Fv/Fm (maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem Ⅱ (PSⅡ) while all PSⅡ reaction centers are open), Fm/Fo (another expression for the maximal photochemical efficiency of PSⅡ), ΦPSⅡ (actual quantum yield of PSⅡ under actinic irradiation), qP (photochemical quenching coefficient), and NPQ (non-photochemical quenching coefficient). But with greater NaCl concentration, the chlorophyll content, Pn, Gs and fluorescence parameters significantly decreased except for an increase of NPQ compared with the control. When H. tuberosus seedlings were treated with Na2CO3, chlorophyll content, Pn, Gs, Fv/Fm, Fm/Fo, ΦPSⅡ and qP significantly decreased and NPQ increased compared with the control. At the same concentration of Na +, the decrease of chlorophyll content, Pn, Gs, Fv/Fm, Fm/Fo, ΦPSⅡ, qP and the increase of NPQ were higher in Na2CO3 stress than in NaCl stress. All results suggested that the tolerance of H. tuberosus seedlings to saline stress was higher than to alkaline stress.

Key words: NaCl, Na2CO3, Helianthus tuberosus, stress, photosynthesis, fluorescence