title: Heavy metal induced physiological alterations in Salvinia natans.
abstract: Salvinia possess inherent capacity to accumulate high levels of various heavy metals. Accumulation of Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Pb and Cd ranged between 6 and 9 mg g(-1)dry wt., while accumulation of Co, Zn and Mn was ∼4 mg g(-1)dry wt. Heavy metal accumulation affected the physiological status of plants. Photosystem II activity noted to decline in Ni, Co, Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu exposed plants, while Photosystem I activity showed enhancement under heavy metal stress in comparison to control. The increase in PS I activity supported build up of transthylakoidal proton gradient (ΔpH), which subsequently helped in maintaining the photophosphorylation potential. Ribulose 1,5 dicarboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activity noted a decline. Alterations in photosynthetic potential of Salvinia result primarily from changes in carbon assimilation efficiency with slight variations in primary photochemical activities and photophosphorylation potential. Studies suggest that Salvinia possess efficient photosynthetic machinery to withstand heavy metal stress.
authors: Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi 110021, India. bhupdhir@gmail.com
authors: Bhupinder
authors: B
authors: Dhir
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Sharmila
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Pardha Saradhi
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Sharma
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Kumar
authors: Devinder
authors: D
authors: Mehta
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D004579:Electron Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D029624:Ferns / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002244:Carbon