Assessment of the effect of heavy metal salts on the photosynthetic activity of aquatic plants
The status of the photosynthetic pigments in the aquatic plants Lemna minor L. and Elodea canadensis Michx. under the action of Ni2+, Co2+, Cu2+ and Pb2+ acetate in concentrations 5.00, 2.50, 1.25, 0.62, 0.31, 0.15, 0.07, and 0.03 mg/L was assessed by changes in the fluorescence intensity of chlorophyll a and b and their ratio. It was established that nickel acetate in original solutions in all the above concentrations caused an increase in the fluorescence intensity of chlorophylls a and b in L. minor in relation to the control while the lead salt suppressed it. Co2+ acetate inhibits the fluorescence of chlorophyll a with concentrations in the initial solutions of 0.03 to 0.15 and 2.50 mg/L and that of chlorophyll b at all concentrations, except 0.62, 1.25 and 2.50 mg/L. For E. canadensis it was found that the salts of all metals at all concentrations caused a reduction of the fluorescence intensity of chlorophyll a relative to the control and increased it in the case of chlorophyll b. The exception is the effect of copper and lead acetates with a concentration of 1.25 mg/L, when the fluorescence intensity of chlorophyll b is maintained at the control level. The presence of Ni2+, Co2+, Cu2+, and Pb2+ acetates in all concentrations in the culture medium influences the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of chlorophyll a and b, which indicates a violation of the photosynthesis process. Our data on the change in the chlorophyll a / b ratio leads to a conclusion about degradation of chlorophyll a relative to chlorophyll b after the effect of heavy metals.