Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol. 52, No. 357, pp. 811-820,
April 15, 2001
© 2001 Oxford University Press
Original Papers |
Responses to bleaching herbicides by leaf chloroplasts of maize plants grown at different temperatures
1 Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Padova, Via U. Bassi 56/B, I-35131, Padova, Italy
2 Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Avanzate, Università del Piemonte Orientale ‘Amedeo Avogadro’, Corso Borsalino 54, I-15100, Alessandria, Italy
The effects of growth temperature on chloroplast responses to norflurazon and amitrole, two herbicides inhibiting carotenogenesis, at phytoene desaturation and lycopene cyclization, respectively, were studied in leaves of maize plants grown at 20 °C and 30 °C in light. At the lower temperature both chemicals caused severe photo-oxidative damage to chloroplasts. In organelles of norflurazon-treated leaves neither carotenoids nor chlorophylls were detectable and the thylakoid system was dismantled. In organelles of amitrole-treated leaves lycopene was accumulated, but small quantities of ß-carotene and xanthophylls were also produced. Moreover, some chlorophyll and a few inner membranes still persisted, although these latter were disarranged, lacking essential protein components and devoid of photosynthetic function. The increase in plant growth temperature to 30 °C did not change the norflurazon effects on carotenoid synthesis and the photo-oxidative damage suffered by chloroplasts. By contrast, in organelles of amitrole-treated leaves a large increase in photoprotective carotenoid biosynthesis occurred, with a consequent recovery of chlorophyll content, ultrastructural organization and thylakoid composition and functionality. This suggests that thermo-modulated steps could exist in the carotenogenic pathway, between the points inhibited by the two herbicides. Moreover it shows that, unlike C3 species, C4 species, such as maize, can express a strong tolerance to herbicides like amitrole, when supplied to plants growing at their optimum temperature conditions.
Key words: Amitrole, carotenoid biosynthesis, chloroplast photo-oxidation, norflurazon, Zea mays.
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