Title: Change of chlorophyll fluorescence transients in Arabidopsis plants irradiated with low-dose radiation using a gamma phytotron

Authors: Jin-Hong Kim, Yu Ran Moon, Min Hee Lee, Byung Yeoup Chung

Addresses: Advanced Radiation Research Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 1266 Sinjeong-dong, Jeongeup 580-185, Korea. ' Advanced Radiation Research Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 1266 Sinjeong-dong, Jeongeup 580-185, Korea. ' Advanced Radiation Research Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 1266 Sinjeong-dong, Jeongeup 580-185, Korea. ' Advanced Radiation Research Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 1266 Sinjeong-dong, Jeongeup 580-185, Korea

Abstract: The present study characterised chlorophyll fluorescence transients significantly altered in Arabidopsis leaves upon exposure to gamma radiation for 7.5 days at a low-dose rate of 0.8 Gy day−1 in a gamma phytotron. The JIP transients of Kautsky fluorescence induction were substantially affected by the consecutive exposure to the low-dose-rate gamma radiation. The performance index of photosynthesis (PI), which is based on the JIP transients, was decreased by up to about 40% in irradiated leaves. However, the maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) and phenotypic traits were almost the same between the control and irradiated leaves. Based on these results, the PI is suggested to be a sensitive and reliable parameter for physiological evaluation of irradiated plants after exposure to low-dose gamma radiation.

Keywords: ionising radiation; gamma radiation; low dose radiation; consecutive exposure; Arabidopsis; photosynthesis; chlorophyll fluorescence; Kautsky fluorescence induction; low radiation; gamma phytotron; irradiated leaves; photochemical efficiency; phenotypic traits; irradiated plants.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLR.2010.034913

International Journal of Low Radiation, 2010 Vol.7 No.4, pp.253 - 258

Published online: 30 Aug 2010 *

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