Low concentrations of NaHSO3 increase photosynthesis, biomass, and attenuate photoinhibition in Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.) plants

Spraying low concentrated (0.5-5.0 mM) solutions of NaHSO3 on Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.) leaves resulted in enhancement (maximal about 15 % at 1 mM NaHSO3) of net photosynthetic rate (P-N) for 6 d. The potential photochemical efficiency of photosystern 2 (PS2, F-v/F-m) and the quantum yield of PS2 electron transport (Phi(PS2)) were increased under strong photon flux density (PFD). The slow phase of millisecond delayed light emission (ms-DLE) was increased, showing that the transmembrane proton motive force related to photophosphorylation was enhanced. We also observed that low concentrations of NaHO3 promoted the production of ATP in irradiated leaves. We suggest that the increase in P-N in Satsuma mandarin leaves caused by low concentrations of NaHSO3 solution may have been due to the stimulation of photophosphorylation and, hence, the increase in photochemical efficiency through speeding-up of PS2 electron transport. Photoinhibition of photosynthesis in leaves was modified by NaHSO3 treatment under high PFD. Hence the increase in leaf dry mass seems to be associated with the mitigation of photoinhibition caused by strong PFD.