A Quantitative Evaluation of the Lipid Composition of Leaves of Aleurites montana as a Consequence of Growth under 0.3 ppm SO₂ in the Atmosphere

Abstract

Gassing during 14 days of Aleurites plants with 0.3 ppm SO₂ leads to quantitative modifications of the lipid composition of leaves. The ratio of phospholipids to glycolipids is shifted from 1:3 in control plants to 1:1.8 in SO₂-plants. Glycolipids decrease from 62% of total lipids in control plants to 50% in SO₂-plants. On the other hand phospholipids increase from 20% in control plants to 28% of total lipids in SO₂-plants. This implies that not only the thylakoid membrane but also the mitochondrial membranes and cell membranes of tonoplasts and of the plasmalemma suffer modifications under the influence of SO₂. With respect to the fatty acid composition, despite the drastic change in the lipid composition no alteration in comparison to control plants is seen. Chlorophylls increase in SO₂-plants by 24% . Also the content of β-carotene, and of the xanthophylls lutein, violaxanthin and neoxanthin is increased. Only zeaxanthin exhibits a decrease. From the changes in the chlorophyll and carotenoid content it can be concluded that in SO₂-plants the light-harvesting-complex (LHCP) is stronger developed (P. He, A. Radunz, K. P. Bader and G. H. Schmid, Z. f. Naturforsch. 51c, 441- 453 and 833-840, 1996).