The effects of cadmium ions (Cd2+) on the Chl a fluorescence of Ricciocarpos natans were investigated in order to determine whether Chl fluorescence can be used as a biomarker to estimate the physiological responses of plants to cadmium stress. In all plants treated with Cd2+, the image of Fv/Fm, which represents the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSⅡ, changed as the Cd2+ concentration increased, when treated for 48 h or more. Changes of ΦPSⅡ and QP images were recognized even at 10 μM Cd2+. The Chl a O-J-I-P fluorescence transient was also affected even at 10 μM Cd2+. The fluorescence yield decreased considerably in steps J, I and P in plants treated with Cd2+, although a typical polyphasic rise was observed in non-treated plants. The Chl fluorescence parameters, Fm, Fv/Fo, Sm, SFIabs, PIabs and ETo/CS, decreased as the Cd2+ concentration increased, while the Mo and Kn parameters increased. Peroxidase activity decreased significantly and catalase activity increased as the Cd2+ concentration increased. Because of its sensitivity to Cd2+ Ricciocarpos natans is useful in experiments investigating the responses of plants to cadmium exposure. Several parameters (Fm, Fv/Fo, Sm, SFIabs, PIabs, ETo/CS, Mo and Kn) can be applied to determine quantitatively the physiological states of plants under cadmium stress.

The effects of Cd2+ ions on the Chl a fluorescence of 5 hydrophytes (e.g. Lemna, Salvinia, Ricciocarp, Nymph, Typha plants) were investigated in order to select Cd2+-sensitive plant species and to get informations on physiological responses of plants to Cd2+ stress. Lemna plants were most sensitive to cadmium stress, while Nymph plants were tolerant. However, in all Cd2+-treated plants, Fv/Fm, the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSⅡ, decreased in proportion to the increase of Cd2+ concentration and treatment time. The Chl a fluorescence transient O-J-I-P was also considerably affected by Cd2+ ions; the fluorescence yield decreased considerably in steps J, I and P in Cd2+ treated plants, although it followed a typical polyphasic rise in non-treated plants. In Lemna plants, the functional parameters, ABS/CS, TRo/CS와 ETo/CS and RC/CS, decreased in proportion to the increase of Cd2+ concentration, while N, Mo and Kn increased. The structural parameters, Φpo, Φpo/(1-Φpo), Plabs, SFlabs, Kp and RC/ABS, also decreased according to the increase of Cd2+ concentration. Consequently, Lemna plants will be useful as a experimental model system to investigate responses of plants. And several functional or structural parameters could be applied to determine quantitatively the physiological states of plants under stresses.

This study was conducted to investigate the changes of chlorophyll contents and chlorophyll fluorescence in barley(Hordeum vulgare L.) 7 day old seedling treated with 0.2M, 0.4M, 0.6M, 0.8M, and 1.0M NaCl concentration containing Hepes buffer(pH 7.5). Barley was affected by NaCl treatment. The chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid of barley decreased with an increase in NaCl concentration. However, chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid of barley were not greatly influenced by o.8M and 1.0M NaCl. Fv, Fv/Fm and qP were gradually decreased by higher concentration of NaCl. qP, qNP, qR and qE were gradually decreased by 6hr. During barley chloroplast was development NaCl affected chlorophyll synthesis than photosynthetic activity. Whereas barley seedling leaves were more influenced photosynthetic activity than chlorophyll contents by NaCl.