Paweł M. Pukacki
Effects of sulphur, fluoride and heavy metals pollution on the chlorophyll fluorescence of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) needles
Dendrobiology 2000, vol. 45: 83-88
Abstract:The photochemical activity of photosystem II (PSII) was measured by chlorophyll a fluorescence intensity of Scots pine needles, from trees growing in various forest experimental areas exposed to air and soil pollution. Fluorescence techniques was used as a no-invasive method of detection injuries of the photosynthetic apparatus. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters such as PSII photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), chlorophyll fluorescence decrease ratio (Rfd) and size of the acceptor pools available to PSII (Sm) indicated seasonal changes in the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus of pine needles. Significant differences in the variable fluorescence parameter rations Fv/Fm and Rfd between the studied sites were found in middle-winter dormancy period in January and also in samples collected in August. Winter inactivation of photosynthesis results in a reduction of the photochemical efficiency Fv/Fm and Rfd. Presented results demonstrate that the effect of industrial pollution on Scots pine needles is detectable by of measurements of fluorescence parameters. They showed that Scots pine trees indicated physiological adaptation to environmental pollution and this can be monitored by the fluorescence signals earlier than by other methods.
Additional key words: chlorophyll a fluorescence, pollution, Scots pine, seasonal changes, stress adaptation