Abstract
Early toxic effects of heavy metals (HMs) Zn, Co, and Cd in concentration from 0.01 to 100 mM on photosynthetic activity of the green alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa Chick S-39 were studied. The early effect of HMs was manifested as a rapid (0.5-2 h) reduction of photoinduced oxygen release by the algal cells. The suppressed relative yield of variable chlorophyll fluorescence ratio (Fv/Fm) by the metals as well as its dynamics in C. pyrenoidosa demonstrated rapid inactivation of photosystem II (PS II). Analysis of the induction curve of delayed chlorophyll fluorescence in Chlorella cells suggested that the early toxic effects of the tested concentrations of Zn, Co, and Cd included both reduced electron transport in PS II and decreased photosynthetic membrane energization. Hence, the early toxic effect of Zn, Co, and Cd was primarily related to the decreased efficiency of the light reactions of photosynthesis which further reduced the alga productivity later.
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