Photosynthetic Pigments in Native Plants of the Taiga Zone at the European Northeast Russia

Abstract

The content and composition of photosynthetic pigments in 160 plant species representing the native flora of the taiga zone in European Northeast Russia were investigated. The amounts and proportions of chlorophylls and carotenoids were shown to depend on plant species, life form, and the attribution of plants to particular geographical and ecological–coenotic groups. On the whole, terrestrial plants of the taiga zone accumulated relatively low amounts of chlorophyll: 2–6 mg/g dry wt. The chlorophyll content in leaves of herbaceous species was 1.5 times larger than in woody plants. The relative content of light-harvesting (antenna) chlorophyll accounted for 55–65% of the total pool of green pigments. The vegetation of the Subpolar Ural mountains, comprising a substantial proportion of arctic and arctic–alpine species, was characterized by the chlorophyll/carotenoid ratio equal to 3. In plants inhabiting the middle Vychegda basin, where boreal species dominated, the chlorophyll/carotenoid ratio was 35% higher than in the Subpolar Ural mountains plants. Despite significant interspecific differences in the content of photosynthetic pigments, the relative content of carotenoids tended to increase in the row: boreal–hypoarctic–arctic and arctic–alpine species. This trend indicates the increasing protective role of carotenoids along with the passage of plants to the north.