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The effect of copper on chlorophyll organization during greening of barley leaves

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Abstract

The effect of copper on chlorophyll organization and function during greening of barley was examined, using chlorophyll fluorescence and photoacoustic techniques. Copper was found to inhibit pigment accumulation and to retard chlorophyll integration into the photosystems, as evident from low temperature (77 K) fluorescence spectra. Resolution of the minimal fluorescence (F0) into active and inactive parts, indicated a higher inactive fraction with copper treatment. This was attributed to chlorophyll molecules which failed to integrate normally, a conclusion supported by the longer fluorescence lifetime observed in copper treated plants. A lower ratio of chlorophyll a to b and fluorescence induction transients, showing accelerated Photosystem II closure, both indicate that copper treatment resulted in a larger light-harvesting antenna. Another effect of copper treatment was the suppression of oxygen evolution, indicating a decrease in photosynthetic capacity. We suggest that the non-integrated chlorophyll fraction sensitizes photodamage in the membrane, contributing to disruption of electron flow and pigment accumulation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Botany, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot, 76100, Israel

    Varda Caspi, Jonathan B. Marder & Victor I. Raskin

  2. Department of Plant Physiology, University of Horticulture and Food Industry, P.O.Box 53, Budapest, H-1502, Hungary

    Magdolna Droppa & Gábor Horváth

  3. Department of Biological Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science, P.O. Box 26, Rehovot, 76100, Israel

    Shmuel Malkin

Authors
  1. Varda Caspi
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  2. Magdolna Droppa
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  3. Gábor Horváth
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  4. Shmuel Malkin
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  5. Jonathan B. Marder
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  6. Victor I. Raskin
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Correspondence to Jonathan B. Marder.

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Caspi, V., Droppa, M., Horváth, G. et al. The effect of copper on chlorophyll organization during greening of barley leaves. Photosynthesis Research 62, 165–174 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006397714430

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