Abstract
The room temperature fluorescence induction of chloroplasts was utilized as a probe to locate the site of inhibition by mercury, copper and zinc on PS II by mercury. Inhibitory effect of Hg2+ on electron transport activity was notable as compared with Cu2+ and Zn2+. At concentrations of HgCl2 over 50 $\mu$M, activities of PS II and whole-chain electron transport decreased more than 70%, while that of PS I decreased about 10~30%. This suggests that PS II is more susceptible to Hg2+ than PS I is. In the presence of diphenylcarbazide (DPC), 50 $\mu$M HgCl2 inhibited the reduction of dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPIP) about 50%. Addition of heavy metals induced marked decrease in maximal variable fluorescence/initial fluorescence [(Fv)m/Fo], but no changes in Fo. With various concentrations of heavy metals, changes of chlorophyll a fluorescence emitted by PS II showed gradual decrease in photochemical quenching (qQ), which indicates an increase in reduced state of electron acceptor, QA. Especially, the addition of HgCl2 caused a notable decrease of qQ. In the presence of 50 $\mu$M CuCl2, energy-depended quenching (qE) was completely reduced, whereas in the presence of 50 $\mu$M CuCl2 and ZnCl2 it was still remained. The above results are discussed on the effects of mercury in relation to water-splitting system and plastoquinone (PQ) shuttle system.