STATE OF THE PIGMENT COMPLEX OF TARAXACUM OFFICINALE L. AS A BIOINDICATOR OF THE ANTHROPOGENIC LOAD OF THE TERRITORY ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE CITY OF ARKHANGELSK

Bebyakova Natalya Aleksandrovna, Levitsky Sergey Nikolaevich, Zhibort Ekaterina Leonidovna, Kubasova Elena Dmitrievna, Sumarokova Alina Vladimirovna

Anthropogenic environmental pollution causes significant disruptions in the functioning of the pigment complex of photosynthetic plants, which is expressed in a decrease in the content of chlorophylls a, b and carotenoids, shifts in the structure of chloroplast membranes and a decrease in the intensity of photosynthesis. The content of chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids in leaves of Taraxacum officinale L. growing in different anthropogenic load areas of Arkhangelsk was determined. This species is widespread in urban agglomerations of all natural zones of Russia and is actively used not only as a source of medicinal raw materials, but also as a bioindicator plant in monitoring the anthropogenic load on the territory. The quantitative content of pigments was evaluated by spectrophotometric method in the visible region of the spectrum. A reliable decrease in the concentration of all studied pigments in the leaves of plants with increasing anthropogenic load was found. Under these conditions, not only absolute indices of the pigment complex changed, but also such markers of anthropogenic impact on the environment as ratios: С chl а / С chl b and (С chl а + С chl b) / Сcarotenoids. The results obtained are also of interest in assessing the quality of herbal raw materials.

Keywords:bioindication, anthropogenic load, dandelion (Taraxacum officinale L.), chlorophyll, carotenoids