Photosynthetica 2003, 41(1):127-136 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1025841313902

The Ultrastructure of Chloroplasts, Content of Photosynthetic Pigments, and Photochemical Activity of Maize (Zea mays L.) as Influenced by Different Concentrations of the Herbicide Amitrole

R. Pechová1,*, J. Kutík2, D. Holá3, M. Kočová3, D. Haisel1, A. Vičánková1
1 Institute of Experimental Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Praha 6, Czech Republic
2 Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Praha 2, Czech Republic
3 Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Praha 2, Czech Republic

The effect of three different concentrations of amitrole (AM), a bleaching herbicide affecting carotenogenesis, on chloroplast ultrastructure, photosynthetic pigment contents, and photochemical activity was studied in two maize genotypes differing in photosynthetic characteristics. The content of photosynthetic pigments in leaves of plants treated with low (20 μM) AM concentration was similar to control plants and no damaging effect of the herbicide on the ultrastructure of either mesophyll (MC) or bundle-sheath (BSC) cell chloroplasts was observed. Higher (60 and 120 μM) concentrations of AM caused a significant decrease in the content of carotenoids (especially xanthophylls), which was followed by photooxidative destruction of chlorophylls and some alterations of chloroplast ultrastructure. MC chloroplasts appeared more sensitive to the damaging effect of AM compared to BSC chloroplasts. A significant decrease in the amount of both granal and intergranal thylakoids in MC chloroplasts was observed with the increasing concentration of AM. As regards BSC chloroplasts, rapid decrease in the volume density of starch inclusions was found in plants treated with higher concentrations of AM. When 120 μM AM was used, both MC and BSC chloroplasts contained just a few thylakoid membranes that were strongly altered. The changes in the ultrastructure of MC chloroplasts were accompanied by the changes in their photochemical activity. The formation of chloroplast protrusions after treatment of plants with AM as well as in control plants was also observed.

Additional key words: 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole; carotenoids; chlorophylls; Hill reaction; photosystems 1 and 2

Published: March 1, 2003  Show citation

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Pechová, R., Kutík, J., Holá, D., Kočová, M., Haisel, D., & Vičánková, A. (2003). The Ultrastructure of Chloroplasts, Content of Photosynthetic Pigments, and Photochemical Activity of Maize (Zea mays L.) as Influenced by Different Concentrations of the Herbicide Amitrole. Photosynthetica, 41(1), 127-136. doi: 10.1023/A:1025841313902
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