title: Growth and photosynthetic responses to copper stress of an invasive cordgrass, Spartina densiflora.
abstract: Spartina densiflora Brongn. is found in coastal marshes of south-west Spain, growing in sediments with between 300 and 3000mg Cu kg(-1) total soil DW (450-4500mg Cu kg(-1) supposing that the soil porosity is 0.5). An experiment was designed to investigate the effect of copper from 0 to 5000mgkg(-1) (64mmoll(-1)) on the photosynthetic apparatus and the growth of S. densiflora. We also determined total ash, copper, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous concentrations, as well as C/N ratio. S. densiflora survived to concentrations as high as 320mg Cukg(-1) DW in leaves, although excess of Cu diminished water use efficiency and Ca-, Mg- and P-uptake. Also, quantum efficiency of PSII, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and pigment concentrations declined with increasing external Cu. Finally, the decline in the photosynthetic function resulted in a biomass reduction of between 50 and 80% (for 600 and 5000mg Cu kg(-1), respectively).
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apartado 1095, Av. Reina Mercedes s/n, 41080 Sevilla, Spain. emana@us.es
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mateos-Naranjo
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Redondo-Gómez
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cambrollé
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enrique Figueroa
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000737:chemistry; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D005453:Fluorescence; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000032:analysis; D006109:Poaceae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D010860:Pigments, Biological; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002734:Chlorophyll; D010758:Phosphorus; D003300:Copper; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium