Effect of seabuckthorn extract on delayed chlorophyll fluorescence on Cd and Co ions treated wheat seedlings.

The protecting effect of “Hypporamine PL” compound isolated from dry leaves of seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamneides L.) on photosystem 2 (PS 2) activity suppression induced by CdCl2 and CoCl2 treatment in the 7 day old wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L.) under different pH of growth medium was investigated by measurement of millisecond delayed fluorescence (ms-DF) of chlorophyll intact leaves. The value o-i/p-s of ms-DF ratio was reduced under the Cd2+ and Co2+ treatments on 60 and 65% respectively at pH 6.7. Acidification of medium (pH 5.0) results in decreasing of ratio o-i/p-s only approximately on 30% in average. In the alkaline medium the lowering of o-i/p-s on 41% is observed in both ions treatments. This decreasing of o-i/p-s ratio occurred due to decreasing of fast phase o-i amplitude. At the same time the widening and increasing of slow phase p-s amplitude was observed. The compound “Hypporamine PL” limited the decrease of ms-DF components induced by heavy metals. It is suggested that the protective effect of “Hypporamine PL” on the photochemical reactions in the PS2 is due to catechins, epicatechins, quercetin and other polyphenols, containing in this compound, preventing the free radicals formation in the PS2 under treatment by heavy metal ions.

Growth, delayed fluorescence and pigment composition of four Prorocentrum minimum strains growing at two salinities

Prorocentrum minimum is a potentially harmful and widely distributed marine dinoflagellate. Several P. minimum strains have already been studied, showing phylogenetical relations of strains isolated from the same geographical regions. Similarity among the strains was further examined on the basis of their physiology. Pigment composition and concentration, as well as delayed fluorescence (DF) decay kinetics and intensity, were measured in four P. minimum strains isolated from the Baltic and Adriatic Seas. The strains were grown at two salinities characteristic of the Baltic (8 PSU) and North Adriatic Seas (32 PSU). Strain differences in DF decay kinetics and growth did not always follow their genetic relations. While two strains showed similarities to the previously described strains from the Baltic and Adriatic Seas in DF parameters, the other two strains seemed to be specific. The differences among strains isolated from the same sea could stem from adaptations to conditions in the specific habitats. Cluster analysis based on the ratio of individual carotenoid pigments concentrations to the chlorophyll a concentration or to total carotenoids were not conclusive in showing relations among the strains. Among the measured pigments, only peridinin concentration depended on salinity in all st.