Abstract
The impact of ozone fumigation on chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters and chlorophyll content of birch trees grown at high and low fertilization were studied for 6-, 8-, and 12-week old leaves. Fluorescence parameters were measured with a portable fluorometer with its fibre optics tightly inserted in a gas exchange cuvette at light intensities from 0 to 220 µmol photons m−2 s−1. Ozone caused significant changes of primary photosynthetic reactions: a decrease of the quantum yield of photosystem II and an increase of non-photochemical quenching. In all leaves a biphasic light response of non-photochemical quenching was observed. Ozone fumigation shifted the onset of the second phase from a PFD of about 60 µmol m−2 s−1 to about 30 µmol m−2 s−1. While the fertilizer concentration had no influence on this character, high fertilization supply of plants partially reduced O3-induced damage. The light responses of Ft, Fm′ and NPQ observed in birch leaves grown in O3-free air indicate the existence of at least two different processes governing energy conversion of the photosynthetic apparatus at PS II in the range of PFD 0–200 µmol photons m−2 s−1. The first phase was attributed to a rather slowly relaxing type of non-photochemical quenching, which, at least at low PFD, is thought to be related to a state 1–2 transition. The further changes of the fluorescence parameters studied at higher PFD might be explained by an increase of energy-dependent quenching, connected with the energization of the thylakoid membrane and zeaxanthin synthesis. A major effect of ozone treatment was a lowering of PS II quantum yield. This reflects a reduction of PS II electron transport and corresponds to the reduction of CO2-fixation observed in ozonated leaves.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 24 September 1996 / Accepted: 27 January 1999
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shavnin, S., Maurer, S., Matyssek, R. et al. The impact of ozone fumigation and fertilization on chlorophyll fluorescence of birch leaves (Betula pendula). Trees 14, 10–16 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004680050002
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004680050002