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Abstract
The response of pea plants (Pisum sativum, cv. Citrine) to various zinc (Zn) concentrations (0.67 to 1000 μM Zn) in the presence and absence of succinate (200 μM Na-succinate) were investigated. Treatment of pea plants alone with excess of Zn reduced plant growth, chlorophyll content and induced alterations in the structure of the chloroplast, resulting mainly in decreased granal thylakoids. The photochemical activity of photosystem II estimated by the ratios Fv/Fm and Fv/Fo was less affected by Zn treatment. The presence of succinate lead to an increase in plant growth and chlorophyll content, improved chloroplast structure of and recovered photosystem II activity in Zn-treated plants. This stimulation was accompanied by an increased zinc root concentration and a decreased zinc shoot concentration. The higher root zinc concentration and decreased zinc translocation from root to shoot by succinate treatment suggest that succinate facilitates the formation of metal-succinate complexes in the roots and may play a role in zinc accumulation.These results provide indirect evidence for a possible role of succinate in Zn-resistance of plants.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work was supported by grants from the National Science Fund of the Bulgarian Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (Grant N B-617/96).