| Abstract Detail
Environmental Physiology Fodorpataki, Laszlo [1], Bartha, Laszlo [2], Marton, Attila L. [2]. Methylmethionine (“vitamin U”) enhances stress tolerance of green algae grown in polluted water. Physiological stress reactions rely on a complex system of biochemical and genetic events, and a major goal of their study is the improvement of stress tolerance for a better development of plants in unfavorable habitats. Investigation of enhancement of stress tolerance in unicellular green algae represents an experimental approach that contributes to the elucidation of cellular events related to stress-induced metabolic and developmental reactions in plants. In this context, we investigated the interaction of methylmethionine (the so-called vitamin U) with environmental stress factors (high concentrations of heavy metals, herbicides) at the level of photosynthetic energy conversion (light use efficiency), net oxygen evolution, cell division rate and dry biomass production of the green microalga Scenedesmus opoliensis. Different parameters of the conventional and pulse amplification modulated chlorophyll fluorescence reveal the beneficial influence of vitamin U on dissipative protective processes related to non-photochemical quenching of induced chlorophyll fluorescence, as well as on the organization of light-harvesting pigment-protein complexes of the thylakoid membranes in algal cells exposed to 50 micromole Cd and 100 micromole Cu. Oxidative damage caused by the herbicide methylviologen is diminished by methylmethionine, and this influence is reflected by a sustained cell division and an increased chlorophyll content. In the absence of stress factors, vitamin U has no significant influence on the investigated physiological parameters. Further investigations of the protective role of methylmethionine in the presence of stress factors may provide a better insight into the mechanisms of antistress reactions of plants grown in unfavorable environments.
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1 - "Babes-Bolyai" University, Biology, 1 Kogalniceanu St., Cluj-Napoca, RO-400084, Romania
2 - "Babes-Bolyai" University, Biology
Keywords:
stress tolerance
vitamin U
heavy metal
green alga.
Presentation Type: Plant Biology Abstract
Session: P
Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton
Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: P01019
Abstract ID:572 |
