Characterization of pigment apparatus in leaves of Salicaceae Mirbel. species

Abstract

The photosynthetic pigments amount and their ratios in the leaves of native and introduced species of 5-7-year-old trees from the collection of the Bila Tserka National Agrarian University biological station and 30-40-year-old species of Salicaceae Mirbel. family in territories with different air pollution were investigated. The analysis of the parameters of the pigment apparatus showed that in the leaves of young trees both native and introduced species broad fluctuations of chlorophyll content (correspondingly, 1.32-2.95 and 0.86-2.22 mg/g of free weight) and carotenoids (respectively, 0.31-0.49 and 0.17-0.38 mg/g of free weight) were observed. Native and introduced species insignificantly differed in the ratio of chlorophylls a/b (from 3.1 to 3.3) and the change in chlorophylls (a+b)/carotinoids ratio between the most contrasting species (1.5-1.6 times). Thus, the analysis of parameters of pigment apparatus changes of different origin species showed that the young introduced plants S. matsuda Koidz. ‘Tortuosa’, S. alatavica Rar. ex Stschegl. S. dasydados Wimm., S. elaegnos Scop., S. miyabeana Seemen, and S. ledebouriana Trautv. successfully adapted to the dry conditions of the Right Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. A slight decrease of photosynthetic pigments content in adult trees leaves (by 6-11%) on the streets of Bila Tserkva, compared with those growing in the suburbs and near the square, and a narrow range of changes in the chlorophyll a/b ratio (3.2-3.4) indicate their successful adaptation to the conditions of the urban environment. The high stability of the pigment apparatus of the species Р. italica (Du Roi) Moench., Р. nigra L., S. fragilis L., S. alba ‘Vittalina pendula’, and Р. simonii to the conditions of aerotechnogenic pollution by motor transport and it is recommended to use them in landscaping city streets.