Chlorophyll a fluorescence in sweet potatoes under different copper concentrations

Abstract

Photosynthesis is one of the main plant metabolic processes affected by copper deficiency and toxicity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different copper concentrations on transient chlorophyll a fluorescence and modulated fluorescence in sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes were placed in a hydroponic system and grown for six days with a complete nutrient solution. The plants were then transferred to solutions with different copper concentrations (0.041, 0.082, 0.123 and 0.164 mM) for nine days. The solutions were renewed every three days, and the plants were evaluated at the end of the experiment. Increased copper availability (0.123 and 0.164 mM) positively influenced the structure and functionality of photosystem I (PSI). The increase in Cu availability also reduced the apparent electron transport rate in the PSII [ETR(II)], and the plants treated with 0.082 and 0.123 mM Cu were able to dissipate the excess light energy in the PSII and protect its units (NPQ and qN). A joint analysis of the data shows that high copper concentrations in the nutrient solution lead to reduced photochemical activity of the PSII, increased dissipation of light energy from this same photosystem and increased PSI efficiency in sweet potatoes.