title: Algal photosynthetic responses to toxic metals and herbicides assessed by chlorophyll a fluorescence.
abstract: Chlorophyll a fluorescence is established as a rapid, non-intrusive technique to monitor photosynthetic performance of plants and algae, as well as to analyze their protective responses. Apart from its utility in determining the physiological status of photosynthesizers in the natural environment, chlorophyll a fluorescence-based methods are applied in ecophysiological and toxicological studies to examine the effect of environmental changes and pollutants on plants and algae (microalgae and seaweeds). Pollutants or environmental changes cause alteration of the photosynthetic capacity which could be evaluated by fluorescence kinetics. Hence, evaluating key fluorescence parameters and assessing photosynthetic performances would provide an insight regarding the probable causes of changes in photosynthetic performances. This technique quintessentially provides non-invasive determination of changes in the photosynthetic apparatus prior to the appearance of visible damage. It is reliable, economically feasible, time-saving, highly sensitive, versatile, accurate, non-invasive and portable; thereby comprising an excellent alternative for detecting pollution. The present review demonstrates the applicability of chlorophyll a fluorescence in determining photochemical responses of algae exposed to environmental toxicants (such as toxic metals and herbicides).
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Marine Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan 426-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: K Suresh
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Green Life Science Department, College of Convergence, Sangmyung University, 7 Hongij-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-743, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hans-Uwe
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Dahms
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Seong
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Marine Environment Research Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Busan 619-705, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung Chul
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Marine Environment Research Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Busan 619-705, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Won Chan
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Marine Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan 426-791, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: shinkh@hanyang.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Kyung-Hoon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000502:physiology*; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000187:drug effects*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005453:Fluorescence; D006540:Herbicides / Q000633:toxicity*; D008670:Metals / Q000633:toxicity*; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006540:Herbicides; D008670:Metals; D002734:Chlorophyll; D000077194:Chlorophyll A
keywords: Algae; Chlorophyll a fluorescence; Herbicide; Photosynthesis; Pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry; Toxic metal