Plant Physiol. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Plant Physiology 70:1049-1054 (1982)
© 1982 American Society of Plant Biologists

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Smillie, R. M.
Right arrow Articles by Nott, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Smillie, R. M.
Right arrow Articles by Nott, R.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Smillie, R. M.
Right arrow Articles by Nott, R.
Articles

Salt Tolerance in Crop Plants Monitored by Chlorophyll Fluorescence In Vivo

Robert M. Smillie and Robyn Nott

Plant Physiology Unit, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Division of Food Research and School of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, P.O. Box 52, North Ryde, Sydney N.S.W. 2113, Australia

The potential of measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence in vivo to detect cellular responses to salinity and degrees of salt stress in leaves was investigated for three crop plants. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) (salt tolerant), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) (moderately salt tolerant), and bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L. cv Canadian Wonder) (salt intolerant) were grown in pots and watered with mineral nutrient solution containing 100 millimolar NaCl. The fast rise in variable chlorophyll fluorescence yield that is correlated with photoreduction of photosystem II acceptors increased in leaves of sugar beet plants treated with salt suggesting stimulation of photosystem II activity relative to photosystem I. In sunflower, this fast rise was depressed by approximately 25% and the subsequent slow rate of quenching of the chlorophyll fluorescence was stimulated. These differences were more marked in the older mature leaves indicating an increasing gradient of salt response down the plant. The salt effect in vivo was reversible since chloroplasts isolated from mature leaves of salt-treated and control sunflower plants gave similar photosystem II activities. Unlike in sugar beet and sunflower, leaves of salt-treated bean progressively lost chlorophyll. The rate of slow quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence decreased indicating development of a partial block after photosystem II and possible initial stimulation of photosystem II activity. With further loss of chlorophyll photosystem II activity declined. It was concluded that measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence in vivo can provide a rapid means of detecting salt stress in leaves, including instances where photosynthesis is reduced in the absence of visible symptoms. The possible application to screening for salt tolerance is discussed.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Exp BotHome page
N. R. Baker and E. Rosenqvist
Applications of chlorophyll fluorescence can improve crop production strategies: an examination of future possibilities
J. Exp. Bot., August 1, 2004; 55(403): 1607 - 1621.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Crop Sci.Home page
G. W. Netondo, J. C. Onyango, and E. Beck
Sorghum and Salinity: II. Gas Exchange and Chlorophyll Fluorescence of Sorghum under Salt Stress
Crop Sci., May 1, 2004; 44(3): 806 - 811.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
ASPB Publications PLANT PHYSIOLOGY THE PLANT CELL
Copyright © 1982 by the American Society of Plant Biologists