Gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements as proxies of X-ray resistance in Phaseolus vulgaris L

Phaseolus vulgaris L. plants were irradiated with different doses (0.3, 10, 50 and 100 Gy) of X-rays in order to obtain a reference curve of response to ionizing radiations for this species. Growth analysis, gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements were performed to estimate the radi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Radiation and environmental biophysics 2019-11, Vol.58 (4), p.575-583
Main Authors: Guadagno, C. R., Pugliese, M., Bonanno, S., Manco, A. M., Sodano, N., D’Ambrosio, N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and Medical Physics
Biophysics
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll A - metabolism
Data recovery
Ecosystems
Effects of Radiation/Radiation Protection
Electron transport
Environmental Physics
Fluorescence
Gas exchange
Ionizing radiation
Irradiation
Leaves
Monitoring/Environmental Analysis
Original Article
Phaseolus - physiology
Phaseolus - radiation effects
Phaseolus vulgaris
Photochemicals
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis - radiation effects
Photosynthetic apparatus
Photosystem II
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Plant Leaves
Radiation, Ionizing
Radioecology
Radiography
X-Rays
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Summary:Phaseolus vulgaris L. plants were irradiated with different doses (0.3, 10, 50 and 100 Gy) of X-rays in order to obtain a reference curve of response to ionizing radiations for this species. Growth analysis, gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements were performed to estimate the radio-resistance of bean plants. Specifically, there was a negative influence of X-rays on the net photosynthesis rate at 50 and 100 Gy, already on the day of irradiation. Experimental data showed a recovery over time in the gas exchange while the theoretical maximum photochemical efficiency of the photosystem II ( Fv/Fm ) was fairly constant throughout the period of measurements (20 days) and for all the experimental conditions. On the other hand, the quantum yield of PSII linear electron transport (Φ PSII ) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) were deeply influenced over time by X-ray dose, suggesting a decrease in the functionality of the photosynthetic apparatus at the highest radiation doses. The growth was affected only at the highest doses of radiation with a significant and severe reduction of leaf expansion and number of leaves per plant. Despite the arrest in growth, X-ray exposure seems to trigger an increased photochemical activity probably signifying that P. vulgaris plants have a fairly elevated resistance to this kind of ionizing radiation. Our current results will provide a complete analysis of the photosystem II (PSII) response of P. vulgaris to different doses (0.3, 10, 50 and 100 Gy) of X-rays, providing sound references for both space-oriented and radioecology questions.
ISSN:0301-634X
1432-2099
DOI:10.1007/s00411-019-00811-3