Initial Fluorescence Research Articles

Physiological Response of Three Grapevine Cultivars Grown In North-Western Poland to Mycorrhizal Fungi

West Pomerania (Poland) is located near the northern boundary of the range of viticulture (the coldest zone A). Unfavourable weather conditions can pose a serious threat to the cultivated vines. One of the treatments used to increase the tolerance of plants to abiotic and biotic stresses is inoculation with symbiotic soil microorganisms. This paper focuses on the influence of mycorrhization on the changes in soil microbiology, the degree of colonization of roots by mycorrhizal fungi, and on selected physiological parameters of three grapevine cultivars (‘Pinot Noir’ on SO4 rootstock, ‘Regent’ on 5BB rootstock, and ‘Rondo’ on 125AA rootstock). The applied inoculation had a stimulating effect on the colonization of roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, as evidenced by higher mycorrhizal frequency and intensity in the mycorrhized plants. The mycorrhizal treatment increased the intensity of CO2 assimilation and transpiration. Mycorrhization reduced the efficiency of photosynthetic water use and increased stomatal conductance for water in the grapevines tested. The mycorrhizal treatment did not affect the concentration of assimilation pigments in vine leaves. The mycorrhization of grapevines had no effect on the values of initial fluorescence, maximum fluorescence, the maximum potential efficiency of photochemical reaction in PS II, the size of the pool of reduced electron acceptors in PS II, nor on the value of the PS II vitality index.

اثر تنش خشکی بر برخی ویژگی های فتوسنتزی کوشیا (Kochia scoparia L.) در یک آزمایش گلخانه ای

مطالعه ­ای با هدف بررسی تأثیر تنش خشکی بر فتوسنتز و عوامل مؤثر بر آن در گیاه کوشیا در قالب طرح کاملا تصادفی با 3 تکرار در گلخانه تحقیقاتی دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد در سال 92-1391 اجرا شد. 9 تیمار خشکی شامل: شاهد (بدون تنش)، تنش ملایم در مرحله رویشی، تنش شدید در مرحله رویشی، تنش ملایم در مرحله زایشی، تنش شدید در مرحله زایشی، تنش ملایم در مرحله رویشی و تنش شدید در مرحله زایشی، تنش شدید در مرحله رویشی و تنش ملایم در مرحله زایشی، تنش ملایم در کل دوره رشد و تنش شدید در کل دوره رشد گیاه بودند.نتایج نشان داد که غلظت کلروفیل a و b، رنگ‌دانه کل و قرائت کلروفیل­ متر در تیمارهای تحت تنش نسبت به شاهد کمتر بود و بین تیمارهای شاهد و تنش ملایم خشکی در مرحله رویشی تفاوت معنی­ داری ازلحاظ آماری مشاهده نشد. اثر خشکی بر شاخص­های فلورسانس کلروفیل معنی­ دار بود و حداکثر عملکرد کوانتومی فتوسیستم II به دلیل افزایش فلورسانس مبدأ و کاهش فلورسانس حداکثر، کاهش یافت. میزان فتوسنتز نیز تحت تأثیر خشکی در مراحل مختلف رشد کاهش یافت. بیشترین و کمترین میزان زیست‌توده نیز به ترتیب در تیمارهای شاهد و تنش شدید کل دوره مشاهده شد. میزان عملکرد زیست‌توده در شاهد، تنش ملایم در مرحله رویشی، تنش شدید در مرحله رویشی، تنش ملایم در مرحله زایشی، تنش شدید در مرحله زایشی، تنش ملایم در مرحله رویشی و تنش شدید در مرحله زایشی، تنش شدید در مرحله رویشی و تنش ملایم در مرحله زایشی، تنش ملایم در کل دوره رشد و تنش شدید در کل دوره رشد گیاه به ترتیب 42.93، 36.75، 27.09، 27.29، 32.80، 29.72، 25.76، 34.69 و 21 گرم در بوته بود. درنهایت این مطالعه نشان داد که عوامل روزنه­ای (تعرق، هدایت روزنه­ای و CO2 زیر روزنه) با فتوسنتز همبستگی معنی­ داری نداشتند و بنابراین نقش محدودکننده­ ای در فتوسنتز و زیست‌توده کوشیا ندارند؛ اما عوامل محدودکننده غیرروزنه­ ای (کلروفیل a و b، قرائت کلروفیل­ متر و حداکثر عملکرد کوانتومی فتوسیستم II) با میزان فتوسنتز همبستگی مثبت و معنی­ داری داشتند و کاهش در هریک از این عوامل به کاهش در میزان فتوسنتز و زیست‌توده منجر شد.

Ultrastructure variations in Sphagnum denticulatum ecotypes in response to desiccation stress matter to conservation

Global warming and peat bogs drying are having a strong negative effect on the survival of endangered peat mosses. Here, we aimed to identify ultrastructural and physiological trait variation during dehydration and rehydration in the (sub-)meristematic cells of buds among clonally propagated individuals of Sphagnum denticulatum in relation to their ecological origin.We cultivated five clones in common garden conditions (CGCs) to exclude a carryover effect and we subsequently water-stressed (−40 MPa) and rehydrated (7 days) them. For the ultrastructure analysis, over 1280 measurements were recorded for 34 traits.Compared with the control, the treatment led to alterations in organelles that appeared to be ecotype- and genotype-dependent and characteristic for desiccation-sensitive mosses. Also, the recovery of chloroplasts, as measured by the initial and maximal fluorescence yield, were incomplete for all studied plants indicating desiccation sensitivity.Terrestrial genotypes possessed better recovery capability than did aquatic genotypes, suggesting an adaptation of the former to tolerate unpredictable terrestrial conditions in time and space. Genotype-specific requirements of water availability in the original environments should be considered before transplanting gametophytes for peatland restoration programs.

Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) morphophysiology under salinity stress and ascorbic acid treatments

The use of saline or low-quality water in agriculture is an alternative to increasing water demand, especially in arid or semi-arid regions. However, the use of water with high levels of salts causes disturbances in plants, which can lead to their death; thus, alternatives to mitigate these effects are relevant in current agriculture. Currently, antioxidants are used to mitigate the effects of salts in plants, and among them ascorbic acid has been frequently mentioned. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of irrigation with saline water combined with applications of ascorbic acid on the development and photosynthetic activity of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) plants. This experiment was carried out in a greenhouse with a randomized block design, with the treatments distributed in a 5.5 incomplete factorial scheme, composed of five electrical conductivities of the irrigation water (ECw): 0.50, 1.30, 3.25, 5.20 and 6.00 dS m-1, and five ascorbic acid (AA) doses: 0.00, 0.29, 1.00, 1.71, and 2.00 mM. The evaluated variables were: shoot height, leaf number, tuberous root diameter, chlorophyll a, b and total content, chlorophyll a/b ratio, initial fluorescence, maximum fluorescence, variable fluorescence and quantum yield of photosystem II. The saline water influenced the analyzed variables in the radish crop regardless of the ascorbic acid application. The ascorbic acid was not efficient in attenuating the deleterious effect of salinity in the irrigation water on the development and fluorescence of the radish. However, it was observed that the concentration of 1.00 mM of ascorbic acid promoted an increase in chlorophyll a, b and total in the saltstressed radish plants.

Photosynthetic heat tolerance of shade and sun leaves of three tropical tree species.

Previous studies of heat tolerance of tropical trees have focused on canopy leaves exposed to full sunlight and high temperatures. However, in lowland tropical forests with leaf area indices of 5-6, the vast majority of leaves experience varying degrees of shade and a reduced heat load compared to sun leaves. Here we tested whether heat tolerance is lower in shade than in sun leaves. For three tropical tree species, Calophyllum inophyllum, Inga spectabilis, and Ormosia macrocalyx, disks of fully developed shade and sun leaves were subjected to 15-min heat treatments, followed by measurement of chlorophyll a fluorescence after 48h of recovery. In two of the three species, the temperature causing a 50% decrease of the fluorescence ratio Fv/Fm (T50) was significantly lower (by ~ 1.0°C) in shade than in sun leaves, indicating a moderately decreased heat tolerance of shade leaves. In shade leaves of these two species, the rise in initial fluorescence, F0, also occurred at lower temperatures. In the third species, there was no shade-sun difference in T50. In situ measurements of photosynthetic CO2 assimilation showed that the optimum temperature for photosynthesis tended to be lower in shade leaves, although differences were not significant. At supra-optimal temperatures, photosynthesis was largely constrained by stomatal conductance, and the high-temperature CO2 compensation point, TMax, occurred at considerably lower temperatures than T50. Our study demonstrates that the temperature response of shade leaves of tropical trees differs only marginally from that of sun leaves, both in terms of heat tolerance and photosynthetic performance.

Fluorescence photobleaching of microplastics: A cautionary tale

Fluorescence microscopy is an important step in visual identification of microplastics and is used to highlight white and transparent plastics that are otherwise easily missed or misidentified. Investigators using fluorescence must proceed with caution, however, as fluorescence photobleaching can significantly reduce the fluorescence output of samples within experimentally relevant time frames. We report on the photobleaching rate and subsequent lack of fluorescence recovery of five common plastics. Our results reveal statistically different photobleaching rates across plastic types. In the best-case scenario of low illumination intensity and a robust plastic, initial fluorescence intensity decayed by 10% in just 11(3) s and by 33% in 230(40) s. In all cases, fluorescence failed to recover more than 13(8)% in 3 h. These results indicate that significant bleaching can occur while searching a sample for plastics to identify and that the lack of recovery can compromise samples for further study.

Identification differential behavior of Gd@C82(OH)22 upon interaction with serum albumin using spectroscopic analysis

The interaction between Gd@C82(OH)22 and serum albumin (HSA and BSA) were investigated by spectroscopic analysis. From the characteristic feature of fluorescence quenching spectra at different temperatures, the inherent binding information including quenching mechanism, association constants, number of binding site, fraction of initial fluorescence and basic thermodynamic parameters were calculated. The binding of Gd@C82(OH)22 to serum albumin caused strong quenching of protein intrinsic fluorescence and the structural changes of serum albumin. At lower concentrations, Gd@C82(OH)22 was likely to rise fluorescence quenching of serum albumin through individual static quenching process by forming a ground-state complex, while dynamic and static coexisting quenching mechanism occurred in high concentration. Bimolecular quenching (Kq) value is twice the diffusion-controlled quenching constant (2.0 × 1010 L mol−1 s−1); binding sites of BSA were slightly more than those of HAS, and all of them reached to 1; the distance r between donor and acceptor was found to be 3.1494 nm and 3.6479 nm for HSA and BSA, respectively, both of which were fewer than 7 nm. It is confirmed that binding interaction for proteins in the presence of drugs was strong, the binding ratio was 1:1, and non-radiative energy transfer from protein to drug was extremely high probability in lower density. Binding process of Gd@C82(OH)22-HSA was driven mainly through van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding formation, however more likely to be electrostatic interaction involved in the Gd@C82(OH)22-BSA binding process; Binding sites of Gd@C82(OH)22 to serum albumin were near tryprophan (HSA) and tyrosine residues (BSA), respectively. Moreover, a theoretical model of predicting the binding rate of drug to serum albumin was estimated, further analyzed that the binding rate was dynamically altered in various dose of protein and drug. Overall, these results provide potentially significant information for elucidating the distribution, transportation, the apparent relationship between pharmacologic activity and total plasma drug concentration as well as anti-carcinogenic activity and mechanisms in vivo.

Simulation experiments to elucidate variable fluorescence as a potential proxy for bulk microalgal viability from natural water, sediments and biofilms: Implication in ships ballast water management

The variable fluorescence fluorometry measuring microalgal biomass (initial fluorescence - F0, a chl-a proxy) and photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) has been suggested as a potential tool in ballast-water assessment. In ballast tank, microalgae can be found in contiguous compartments i.e., in water, sediment, and biofilms. Therefore the utility of F0 and Fv/Fm depends upon proper background corrections, which is straightforward for water samples but not for sediment and biofilms. This study proposes procedures for correcting F0 values from sediment and biofilms. Irrespective of the saturation flash protocol used on any sample types the outcome of the results from viable and non-viable microalgae will remain same. Stress experiments (continuous darkness and biocide treatments) confirm that variable fluorescence (Fv) can be used as a potential proxy for viable cells as the values were negligible for non-viable cells and increased with an increase in abundance. Through this study, the utility of Fv and σPSII (functional-absorption-cross-section of photosystem II) along with F0 and Fv/Fm in providing additional information on cell-viability and algal-size group during assessment is discussed. The findings will have implications not only from the perspective of ballast water but also in testing/assays of specific interest (e.g. toxicity, water treatments, antifouling) and ecological studies involving microalgae.

A novel hypobromous acid scavenging activity assay using p-cresol as a spectrofluorometric probe

In this study, a novel spectrofluorometric assay based on $p$-cresol (4-methyl phenol) probe is developed for the measurement of HOBr scavenging activity. It is the first study involving the use of a $p$-cresol probe for the determination of the HOBr scavenging activity of biothiols. While the $p$-cresol probe ($\lambda_{ex}$ = 260 nm, $\lambda_{em}$ = 305 nm) has fluorescence characteristics, its brominated derivatives emerging at the end of the oxidation reaction with HOBr do not show fluorescence. The initial fluorescence intensity of the $p$-cresol probe is decreased in the presence of the brominating agent, HOBr, and this decrease is lower in the presence of HOBr scavenging antioxidants. The scavenging activities of biothiols tested with respect to the developed method decrease in the following order: penicillamine $>$ N-acetyl cysteine $>$ L-glutathione (reduced) $>$ cysteamine $>$ homocysteine $>$ glutathione ethyl ester $>$ cysteine $>$ 1,4-dithiothreitol $>$ lipoic acid $>$ methionine. Penicillamine (IC$_{50}$ = 10.12 $\mu $M) was the most effective HOBr-scavenger among the tested biothiols. The results obtained with the developed method for biothiols and some pharmaceutical samples were statistically compared (using ANOVA) to those found by the reference methods (KI/taurine and UPLC). The advantage of the proposed method over the KI/taurine assay was demonstrated

Intoxication and Physiological Aspects of Forage Plants and Weeds Submitted to Clomazone Atmospheric Waste

ABSTRACT: Herbicide volatilization may generate environmental and agricultural problems and result in visual or physiological contamination of non-target plant species. Thus, the goal of this research was to study the fluorescence of chlorophyll a in weeds and fodder plants under the effect of clomazone in the form of atmospheric waste. The experiment was conducted under field conditions designed in randomized blocks with four replications, in a 6 x 4 factor scheme, with six plant species: Dolichos lablab, bicolor Sorgum, Urochloa brizantha, Macrotyloma axillare, Portulaca oleracea and Sida rhombifolia. There were four solutions containing 0, 360, 720 and 1,080 g ha-1 of clomazone (0, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15 mg L-1, considered as the volume). Seedbeds were built and covered with transparent polyethylene film of 150 μm, with a volume of 12 m³. Fodder plants were sown in line, while weeds were selected according to the incidence. On the sixteenth day after emergence, concentrations of herbicide diluted on three petri dishes were inserted. After 72 hours of exposure, the tunnels were opened and the dishes were removed, noticing evaporation of the product. The following evaluationswere performed: plant poisoning, initial fluorescence, maximum quantum yield of PSII, photochemical quenching, non-photochemical quenching and chlorophyll content. Even at concentrations that do not promote visual effect, clomazone can cause significant damage in the photosynthetic activity of the species. The physiological variables chlorophyll, maximum quantum yield of PSII and initial chlorophyll fluorescence can be effectively used to monitor clomazone waste in the atmosphere.

A Paper Sensor Printed with Multifunctional Bio/Nano Materials.

We report a paper-based aptasensor platform that uses two reaction zones and a connecting bridge along with printed multifunctional bio/nano materials to achieve molecular recognition and signal amplification. Upon addition of analyte to the first zone, a fluorescently labelled DNA or RNA aptamer is desorbed from printed graphene oxide, rapidly producing an initial fluorescence signal. The released aptamer then flows to the second zone where it reacts with printed reagents to initiate rolling circle amplification, generating DNA amplicons containing a peroxidase-mimicking DNAzyme, which produces a colorimetric readout that can be read in an equipment-free manner or with a smartphone. The sensor was demonstrated using an RNA aptamer for adenosine triphosphate (a bacterial marker) and a DNA aptamer for glutamate dehydrogenase (Clostridium difficile marker) with excellent sensitivity and specificity. These targets could be detected in spiked serum or feacal samples, demonstrating the potential for testing clinical samples.

A Paper Sensor Printed with Multifunctional Bio/Nano Materials

AbstractWe report a paper‐based aptasensor platform that uses two reaction zones and a connecting bridge along with printed multifunctional bio/nano materials to achieve molecular recognition and signal amplification. Upon addition of analyte to the first zone, a fluorescently labelled DNA or RNA aptamer is desorbed from printed graphene oxide, rapidly producing an initial fluorescence signal. The released aptamer then flows to the second zone where it reacts with printed reagents to initiate rolling circle amplification, generating DNA amplicons containing a peroxidase‐mimicking DNAzyme, which produces a colorimetric readout that can be read in an equipment‐free manner or with a smartphone. The sensor was demonstrated using an RNA aptamer for adenosine triphosphate (a bacterial marker) and a DNA aptamer for glutamate dehydrogenase (Clostridium difficile marker) with excellent sensitivity and specificity. These targets could be detected in spiked serum or feacal samples, demonstrating the potential for testing clinical samples.

Water relation, leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence imaging of soybean leaves infected with Colletotrichum truncatum

Considering the potential of anthracnose to decrease soybean yield and the need to gain more information regarding its effect on soybean physiology, the present study performed an in-depth analysis of the photosynthetic performance of soybean leaflets challenged with Colletotrichum truncatum by combining chlorophyll a fluorescence images with gas-exchange measurements and photosynthetic pigment pools. There were no significant differences between non-inoculated and inoculated plants in leaf water potential, apparent hydraulic conductance, net CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance to water vapor and transpiration rate. For internal CO2 concentration, significant difference between non-inoculated and inoculated plants occurred only at 36 h after inoculation. Reductions in the values of the chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters [initial fluorescence (F0), maximal fluorescence (Fm), maximal photosystem II quantum yield (Fv/Fm), quantum yield of regulated energy dissipation (Y(NPQ))] and increases in effective PS II quantum yield (Y(II)), quantum yield of non-regulated energy dissipation Y(NO) and photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) were noticed on the necrotic vein tissue in contrast to the surrounding leaf tissue. It appears that the impact of the infection by C. truncatum on the photosynthetic performance of the leaflets was minimal considering the preference of the fungus to colonize the veins.

Fluorescencia de la clorofila <i>a</i> en plantas de piña sometidas a aplicación de herbicidas

El manejo químico de malezas con herbicidas es una actividad recomendada en cultivos, estrategia que permite un control eficaz para el cultivo de piña, que puede afectar su crecimiento y fisiología. De acuerdo a esto, el objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar el efecto de herbicidas de post-emergencia en parámetros de fluorescencia de la clorofila y tasa de transporte de electrones, relacionando la fluorescencia de la clorofila a en plantas de piña, variedad Imperial, así como, comprobar la intoxicación causada por estos productos. El experimento se realizó en campo en bloques aleatorizados en esquema factorial 5×2, siendo cuatro herbicidas (ametym, diuron, fluazifop y sulfentrazona) y el control (sin herbicida) y dos tiempos de evaluación (7 y 21 días después de la aplicación). El monitoreo de la fluorescencia de clorofila y las tasas de transporte de electrones también se llevaron a cabo a los 7 y 21 días después de la aplicación del tratamiento, siendo las variables: 1) fluorescencia inicial; 2) fluorescencia máxima; 3) relación de fluorescencia variable y fluorescencia total y 4) tasa de transporte de electrones. Los herbicidas evaluados afectaron negativamente el aparato fotosintético de las plantas de piña, el herbicida diuron seguido del ametrym fueron los productos que provocaron mayor estrés fisiológico en el cultivo. En la segunda época de evaluación, los efectos sobre el aparato fotosintético de las plantas se fueron intensificando, donde los productos probados redujeron los valores de la relación fluorescencia variable y máxima, indicando aumento del estrés causado por los herbicidas evaluados.

Reversible photobleaching of photoconvertible SAASoti-FP

SAASoti is a green fluorescent protein suitable for use in super-resolution microscopy as it can be photoconverted to red fluorescence under 405 nm illumination. The green fluorescence of V127T SAASoti variant is reversibly photobleached under exposure to 470 nm light without photoconversion to the red form. The phenomenon can be explained by chromophore protonation that was confirmed by an increase in absorption at 400 nm (chromophore protonated form) and a decrease at 509 nm (anionic form). This light-induced photoswitching can be repeated with the same sample several times without loss of the initial fluorescence intensity. Subsequent sample exposures result in the same fluorescence recovery process. By changing the content of the H-form one can control photoswitching as only the protonated SAASoti may be converted to the red form. This property is extremely important for sub-diffraction microscopy.

Sensitive and selective turn-off-on fluorescence detection of Hg2+ and cysteine using nitrogen doped carbon nanodots derived from citron and urine

An environmentally benign and cost efficient cysteine fluorescence sensor is constructed on the basis of nitrogen doped carbon nanodots (NCNDs) prepared by using citron fruit extract and human urine waste as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. The turn-off-on fluorescence technique is exploited for the sensing of cysteine, in which the initial fluorescence of NCNDs is quenched with Hg2+via an electron transfer process. Owing to the competitive binding of Hg2+ with cysteine, the ‘turn-off’ fluorescence sensor is switched to the ‘turn-on’ state. Under optimized conditions, NCNDs-Hg2+ assembly demonstrates a lower detection limit and a wide linear range toward cysteine detection. Furthermore, NCNDs display the discriminative detection of cysteine from the similar bioactive molecules and the co-existence of interference species does not influence the detection of NCNDs toward the interest of an analyte. Furthermore, the practical application of NCNDs based fluorescence sensor is validated with the good recovery in human urine samples, which explores the new avenues in the fluorescence sensing of biomolecules.

Effects of ecological water transport on photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence of Populus euphratica

Abstract This study investigated the physiological response of Populus euphratica (P. euphratica) to ecological water transport. Results showed significant increases in net photosynthetic (32.71%), stomatal conductance (27.58%), and transpiration (25.18%) rates of P. euphratica prior to the ecological water transport treatment. Internal CO2 concentrations (Ci) decreased significantly compared with the day preceding the treatment (23.69%; P < 0.05). During the treatment, the O, J, I, and P steps quickly increased, with the P step exhibiting the most significant change (P < 0.05). Moreover, Fv /Fm and Fv/Fo values were highest 7 d after the ecological water transport treatment. During the treatment, the initial fluorescence (F0), the maximal fluorescence intensity (Fm), PI, and RC/CSo quickly increased, with an increasing percentage of 9.67%, 46.15%, 59.17%, and 48.54%. In contrast, Vj, ABS/RC, TRo/RC, and ETo/RC rapidly decreased, with a decreasing percentage of 30.43%, 43.54%, 37.50%, and 39.04%, respectively. After the treatment, the average chlorophyll content of a, b, and a + b increased by 26.36%, 8.89%, and 21.93%, respectively, compared with the day preceding the treatment. This study also found that the relationship between soil water content and the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, the transpiration rate, the internal CO2 concentration, Fv/Fm, and Fv/Fo of P. euphratica were strongest during ecological water transport.

Leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence in soybean leaves infected by Phakopsora pachyrhizi

AbstractAsian soybean rust (ASR), caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is one of the most important foliar diseases affecting soybean production worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the photosynthetic performance (leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence images and photosynthetic pigment pools) of soybean plants sprayed with Acibenzolar‐S‐Methyl (ASM) and the fungicide epoxiconazole + pyraclostrobin (Epo+Pyr) and further inoculated with P. pachyrhizi. The ASR symptoms progressed much faster on the leaves of plants from the control treatment (water spray) in comparison with the ASM and Epo+Pyr treatments. In general, the values for the leaf gas exchange parameters net carbon assimilation rate (A), stomatal conductance to water vapour (gs), internal CO2 concentration (Ci) and transpiration rate (E) increased for the infected plants sprayed with ASM or Epo+Pyr in comparison with plants from the control treatment. The values for the initial fluorescence (Fo), maximal fluorescence (Fm), maximal photosystem II quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm), effective photosystem II quantum yield (Y(II)) and quantum yield of regulated energy dissipation (Y(NPQ)) were consistently higher for the ASM and Epo+Pyr treatments in comparison with the control treatment at advanced stages of fungal infection. By contrast, the values for quantum yield of non‐regulated energy dissipation (Y(NO) were significantly lower for the ASM and Epo+Pyr treatments. The concentrations of total Chl a+b and carotenoids significantly increased for infected plants sprayed with ASM and Epo+Pyr in comparison with plants from the control treatment. The results of this study demonstrated that the spray of soybean plants with either ASM or Epo+Pyr contributed to reduce the negative effect of ASR on the photosynthesis of soybean plants.

Water Relations and Gas Exchanges of West Indian Cherry under Salt Stress and Nitrogen and Phosphorus Doses

This study aimed to evaluate the interaction between the fertilization with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and irrigation with saline water on the water relations, gas exchanges and chlorophyll a fluorescence in West Indian cherry in the vegetative stage. The study was carried out in protected environment, using lysimeters filled with clay loam Regolithic Neosol, with low P content, installed in a randomized block design, arranged in a factorial scheme with five levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water (ECw), and four managements of P and N fertilization, with three replicates and one plant per plot. Along the experiment, water relations, gas exchanges and chlorophyll a fluorescence were evaluated in West Indian cherry plants. The increase in irrigation water salinity reduces the gas exchanges of the plants, but the increment of 40% in N supply increases the photosynthetic activity of West Indian cherry at recommendation levels higher than 100:100% of the P/N ratio, when irrigated with ECw of up to 3.0 dS m-1. The combined action of N and P, at doses of 140:140% N/P recommendation, increases leaf turgor in the plants, regardless of the ECw level. The increment of 40% in N dose reduces the effects of salinity on the initial fluorescence of chlorophyll a in West Indian cherry irrigated with up to 2.2 dS m-1.

A Cyclam‐Based Fluorescent Ligand as a Molecular Beacon for Cu2+ and H2S Detection

A pentadentate cage‐like cyclam‐based fluorescent ligand has been designed, synthesized, and characterized by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. To further characterize the title ligand, ESI‐MS, UV/Vis spectroscopy, and fluorescence experiments have been also performed. Its suitability as a chemosensor for the detection of Cu2+ ions has been successfully explored with a variety of spectroscopic techniques (i.e., ESI‐MS, UV/Vis, and fluorescence). A Job's plot experiment, together with ESI‐MS experiments, indicate a 1:1 stoichiometry for the binding of Cu2+ to the cyclam‐based ligand. Fluorescence experiments corroborate this hypothesis. The resulting system is selective in the recognition of copper and is stable for a week, as assessed by fluorescence spectroscopy. The CuII complex has been isolated and tested as a fluorescent probe for the detection of H2S. NMR spectroscopy and ESI‐MS investigations have provided evidence that H2S recognition occurs through a copper‐displacement mechanism, as reported in the literature for different copper complexes. The system functions with a selective response to HS–, harnessing a concentration‐dependent “turn‐on” of the initial fluorescence intensity.