Responses of Chlorophyll Fluorescence to Simulated SO2 Pollution in Eight Liana Species in South China

Abstract:

We investigated the effects of simulated SO2 treatment on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, rapid light-response curves, anti-oxidant capacity (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging capacity) and photosynthetic pigment contents in the excised leaves of eight liana species. After leaf sections were immersed in 20 mmol/L NaHSO3 for 10 h, Fv/Fm, ΦPSII, rETR, rETRmax and initial slope (α) of rapid light-response curves decreased compared with the controls (in purified water). Variation tendencies in anti-oxidant capacities and chloroplast pigment contents differed among species. It is deduced that Clerodendron thomsonae, Cissus sicyoides and Mucuna birdwoodiana had higher tolerance to simulated SO2 treatment, whereas Bauhinia corymbosa，Passiflora coccinea，Bougainvillea glabra were sensitive to simulated SO2 pollution.

Key words:Liana; Chlorophyll fluorescence; Air pollution; Pollutant-resistance