Cm. Cook et al., EFFECTS OF COPPER ON THE GROWTH, PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND NUTRIENT CONCENTRATIONS OF PHASEOLUS PLANTS, Photosynthetica, 34(2), 1997, pp. 179-193
Bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Zargana Kavala) were grown und
er conditions of increasing Cu concentrations in the growth medium (0.
5-160.5 mu M). Generally, the Cu concentrations between 0.5-1.5 mu M w
ere deficient, 1.5-10.5 mu M were optimal, and 10.5-160.5 mu M were to
xic to plant growth. The Cu toxicity was associated with marked increa
ses in plant tissue Cu concentrations. Under the Cu-deficient and opti
mal growth conditions, Cu was located primarily in the leaves. Under C
u toxicity, it was primarily sequestered in the roots. With increasing
Cu in the growth medium, there was a positive correlation between Cu
concentrations in the roots, stems and leaves, Ca in the roots, and K
and Mg in the leaves. In contrast, Ca concentrations in the leaves and
stems showed a negative correlation. The chlorophyll (Chl) concentrat
ion increased with increasing leaf Cu concentration, however, the Chl
a/b ratio decreased. Since with an increasing leaf Cu concentration th
e leaf area decreased more markedly than the leaf dry mass, the net ph
otosynthetic rate (P-N) per leaf area increased and per dry mass decre
ased. The increase in P-N per leaf area was almost entirely accounted
for by the increase in Chl concentration. The initial Chl fluorescence
(F-0) increased with increasing leaf Cu concentration. The ratio of v
ariable to maximum fluorescence (F-v/F-m) under Cu toxicity decreased.
The half-time for the rise from F-0 to F-m (t(1/2)) remained relative
ly unchanged with increasing leaf Cu concentration. Therefore the Cu-s
tress caused a small decrease in the efficiency of photosystem 2 photo
chemistry, but its primary effect was on growth.