Journals / Harran Tarım ve Gıda Bilimleri Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 29 Sayı: 2

Investigation of the photochemical effects of cobalt toxicity in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) plants

Kobalt toksisitesinin arpa (Hordeum vulgare L.) bitkisi üzerindeki fotokimyasal etkilerinin araştırılması

Ali Doğru(SAKARYA ÜNİVERSİTESİ, FEN-EDEBİYAT FAKÜLTESİ, BİYOLOJİ BÖLÜMÜ)0000-0003-0060-4691
Pages
356–368
Publication Date
2025-06-16
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⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Our results showed that 300 µM and 600 µM cobalt applications did not adversely affect photosynthetic activity in barley plants.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:In this study, the short-term effects of different concentrations of cobalt [Co(NO3).2H2O; 0 µM (control), 300 µM, 600 µM and 900 µM] applications on photosynthetic activity in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv.
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Key Findings & Data:Kalaycı-97) plants at the early seedling stage were investigated.
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Conclusion & Impact:Our results showed that 300 µM and 600 µM cobalt applications did not adversely affect photosynthetic activity in barley plants.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Arpa · Klorofil a floresansı · Kobalt toksisitesi

Abstract

In this study, the short-term effects of different concentrations of cobalt [Co(NO3).2H2O; 0 µM (control), 300 µM, 600 µM and 900 µM] applications on photosynthetic activity in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Kalaycı-97) plants at the early seedling stage were investigated. For this purpose, photosynthetic activity measurements were done using the chlorophyll a fluorescence technique in barley plants grown in water culture prepared with Hoagland nutrient solution. Our results showed that 300 µM and 600 µM cobalt applications did not adversely affect photosynthetic activity in barley plants. However, 900 µM cobalt treatment significantly inhibited photosynthetic electron transport reactions in barley plants. For instance, Hill reaction was found to be very vulnerable to cobalt toxicity, as demonstrated by the lower Fv/Fo value, therefore confirming the impairment of the electron movement between oxygen-evolving complex on the donor side of PSII and reaction centers in barley plants. However, the parameter Sm remained unchanged in barley seedlings under 900 µM cobalt treatment. This may indicate a putative and regular electron transfer toward reaction centers, probably due to an alternative electron donor. This phenomenon may be a photosynthetic tolerance mechanism for barley plants under cobalt toxicity, which is also supported by the constant level of the parameter N. In addition, the decreased Fv/Fm ratio in barley plants under 900 µM cobalt toxicity clearly indicated the occurrence of the large extent of photoinhibition. The elevated Fo and the constant Fm values in barley plants due to 900 µM cobalt treatment verified that the donor side of PSII units are more susceptible to cobalt toxicity than the acceptor side. Changes in the parameters TRo/RC, ETo/RC, DIo/RC, and Do showed that cobalt toxicity inhibited the use of the trapped light energy photochemically but induced its dissipation as heat, therefore decreasing photosynthetic efficiency in barley plants. As a result, it may be concluded that the critical concentration of cobalt toxicity in barley plants is between 600-900 µM, which may result in decerase in agricultural yield.

Özet

Bu çalışmada, arpa (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Kalaycı-97) bitkisinde erken fide döneminde farklı konsantrasyonlardaki kobalt [Co(NO3).2H2O; 0 µM (kontrol), 300 µM, 600 µM and 900 µM] uygulamalarının fotosentetik aktivite üzerindeki kısa süreli etkileri araştırılmıştır. Bu amaçla Hoagland besin çözeltisi ile hazırlanan su kültüründe yetiştirilen arpa bitkilerinde klorofil a floresansı tekniği ile fotosentetik aktivite ölçümleri yapılmıştır. Sonuçlarımız 300 µM ve 600 µM kobalt uygulamalarının arpa bitkilerinde fotosentetik aktiviteyi olumsuz etkilemediğini göstermiştir. Ancak 900 µM kobalt uygulaması arpa bitkilerinde fotosentetik elektron taşıma reaksiyonlarını önemli ölçüde inhibe etmiştir. Örneğin, düşük Fv/Fo değerleri arpa bitkilerinde Hill reaksiyonunun kobalt toksisitesine karşı çok hassas olduğunu göstermiş olup, bu da FSII'nin donör bölgesindeki oksijen üreten kompleks ile reaksiyon merkezleri arasındaki elektron hareketinin bozulduğunu doğrulamaktadır. Ancak 900 µM kobalt uygulaması altındaki arpa fidelerinde Sm parametresi etkilenmemiştir. Bu durum muhtemelen varsayımsal ve alternatif bir elektron vericisi yardımıyla reaksiyon merkezlerine doğru düzenli bir elektron transferinin belli oranda devam ettiği olasılığını akla getirmektedir. Bu olgu, kobalt toksisitesi altındaki arpa bitkileri için fotosentetik bir tolerans mekanizması olabilir ve bu durum, N parametresinin değişmemiş olmasıyla da desteklenmektedir. Ayrıca arpa bitkilerinde 900 µM kobalt toksisitesi altında Fv/Fm oranının azalması, FSII birimlerinde meydana gelen fotoinhibisyonu açıkça göstermektedir. Arpa bitkisinde 900 µM kobalt uygulaması sonucu artan Fo ve sabit Fm değerleri, FSII ünitelerinin donör bölgesinin akseptör bölgesine göre kobalt toksisitesine daha duyarlı olduğunu doğrulamıştır. TRo/RC, ETo/RC, DIo/RC ve Do parametrelerindeki değişimler, kobalt toksisitesinin yakalanan ışık enerjisinin fotokimyasal olarak kullanımını engellediğini, ancak ısı olarak dağılmasına neden olduğunu, dolayısıyla arpa bitkisinde fotosentez verimliliğini azalttığını göstermiştir. Sonuç olarak arpa bitkisinde tarımsal verimde azalmaya yol açabilecek kobalt toksisitesinin kritik konsantrasyonunun 600-900 µM arasında olduğu sonucuna varılabilir.

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Cite This Article

Doğru, A., Köseoğlu, S. T. (2025). Investigation of the photochemical effects of cobalt toxicity in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) plants. Harran Tarım ve Gıda Bilimleri Dergisi, Cilt: 29 Sayı: 2, 356–368. https://doi.org/10.29050/harranziraat.1667275

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