Photosynthesis inhibition of protoplasts. An indicator for air-borne immissions

The ecotoxicological effect of rain water on the light-dependent, photosynthetical oxygen production of suspended protoplasts from the bean species Vicia faba L. was used for the characterization of airborne immissions. The protoplast-biotest - with rain water samples taken in an agricultural area from March to July - showed a clear inhibition of the photosynthetical oxygen production. Simultaneously, chemical analyses on some herbicides were carried out. The concentrations detemined, however, did not sufficiently explain the measured inhibition of oxygen production; so, the toxicity yielded was assumed to result from not-analyzed compounds as well as synergistic and additive effects of the rain water constituents. (orig.)