Guaiacol Peroxidases and Photosynthetic Pigments during Maturation of Spruce Needles*

Changes in the guaiacol peroxidases activity, electrophoretic pattern, photosynthetic pigments content and photosystem II efficiency in spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) needles of different ages were investigated. Four generations of needles (current-year, one-, two- and three-year-old) were collected from ten Norway spruce trees. Similar Fv/Fm values (the ratio of variable and maximal fluorescence) in all investigated needles indicate that they were healthy with a fully functional photosystem II. There was a significant increase in photosynthetic pigments content during the first year of development. Total guaiacol peroxidases activity was increasing continuously during needles maturation. Significant differences were recorded between the current-year and older needles, as well as between the one-year-old and three-year-old needles. Also, the expression of new isoforms of peroxidases was observed in one-year-old needles compared to current-year needles. No differences in the isoperoxidase pattern were observed between one-, two- and three-year-old needles. The obtained results show that Norway spruce needles were subject to most pronounced biochemical and molecular changes during the first year of development. Keywords guaiacol peroxidases photosynthetic pigments ageing needles Picea abie