UTSC Photosynthesis Journal

BIO A01 2025- Summer; 1(1): 1-6

Analysis of herbicide impact on photosynthesis efficiency

UTSC BIOA01 Lab PRA0005

Abstract: This experiment investigates the effect of DCMU which is a photosynthetic inhibitor on the rate of oxygen
production in Elodea densa, an aquatic plant used in photosynthesis research. Understanding herbicide affects on
photosynthetic organisms such as plants is crucial due to their potential ecological consequences in water environments. We
hypothesized that DCMU exposure would decrease Elodea densa’s photosynthetic rate. To test this, we compared oxygen
production between a control group and an experimental group treated with DCMU, we tracked the oxygen production as a
measure of photosynthetic activity. The results revealed a significant reduction in oxygen production in the DCMU treated
group. These findings highlight the herbicide’s inhibitory effect and the sensitivity of aquatic plants to chemical inhibitors
which raise important considerations regarding herbicide application in watery ecosystem.

Keywords: DCMU, Elodea densa, oxygen production measurement, energy

Introduction
Photosynthesis is the process of converting light energy into food or chemical energy used mostly by plants. This process

consumes Carbon Dioxide and releases oxygen. This happens in chloroplasts, where light photons split water molecules in a

part of the process called photosystem ll (PSll). This key step produces oxygen and provides electrons needed to make energy.

Some herbicides, like 3-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea (DCMU), block this process by stopping the flow of electrons

in the photosystem ll, which lowers the rate of photosynthesis (Huang, Hu, and Chen, 2018).

Elodea densa is a common aquatic plant to work with in such experiments. They produce oxygen fast and react clearly to

changes in light and chemicals, making this plant useful for testing how DCMU affect photosynthesis. Understanding these

effects is important because herbicides can damage aquatic ecosystems and reduce biodiversity (Baker and Rosenqvist, 2004)

The goal of this experiment is to recognize how DCMU affects the rate of photosynthesis in Elodea densa by measuring how

much oxygen is produced by the plant. We predicted that DCMU would lower the rate of photosynthesis by blocking electron

movement in PSll. To test this, we used two groups: one with bicarbonate solution and one with bicarbonate solution plus

DCMU. The group with only bicarbonate solution is the control and the group with DCMU is the experimental. Then oxygen

levels were measured over 60 minutes.

If herbicide, DCMU, works as expected the group with DCMU solution should produce less oxygen than the control group.

This would support the hypothesis that DCMU slows down photosynthesis in aquatic plants.
Materials and Methods

To test how DCMU affects the photosynthetic rate of Elodea densa, we conducted an experiment which was performed

using specific materials and steps. We used exactly 15 Cm cuttings of Elodea densa, beaker, tube, lamp, pipette, a 0.5%

sodium bicarbonate solution (NaHCO3) and a 0.1 mM DCMU solution. To prepare for this experiment, each cutting was placed

in the sodium bicarbonate solution to remove air bubbles and ensure a steady supply of CO2. The cuttings were splitted in

two groups: a controlled group placed in tube with sodium bicarbonate solution and an experimental group placed in tube

with sodium bicarbonate solution plus DCMU. Both groups were exposed to a lamp place 15 cm and allowed to adjust for 10

minutes under the same light condition. After the 10 minutes of equilibrium period, we measured oxygen production using a

pipette attached to each tube. As the plants released oxygen, the oxygen molecules pushed water along the pipette. To keep

the results accurate and avoid bias, we made sure the light intensity and distance from the light source stayed the same

throughout the experiment. Then we recorded the total amount of water moved through the pipette every five minutes for a

total of 60 minutes. So we recorded 12 numbers for each groups.

At the end, we calculated the photosynthetic rate by dividing the total oxygen produced by the total time (in mL/min). Then

we used other students t-test provided by TA to compare the control group with the experimental or treated group.

Results

The average photosynthetic rates of Elodea densa were measured for both the control group and the treated group with

DCMU. The control group which received only bicarbonate solution, had a higher oxygen making rate. Therefore, it had higher

photosynthetic rate than DCMU treated group. This shows that DCMU reduces photosynthesis by lowering oxygen

production. A t-test was used to see if there was a real difference between the control group and the group treated with

DCMU. Table 1 shows the results including sample size or n, critical and calculated t-values, degree of freedom or df, p value

and the conclusion. Results shows that DCMU treated group had a lower photosynthetic rate than the control group but its

not significantly lower. Figure 1 shows the average photosynthetic rates for both groups, with error bars for standard

deviation. The graph supports the data in table 1, showing that DCMU reduces the photosynthetic rate o Elodea densa but not

significantly.
UTSC Photosynthesis Journal
BIO A01 2025- Summer; 1(1): 1-6
Ray Esmaeili/1010942839

Table 1: Results of the t-test comparing the photosynthetic rates of Elodea densa in the control and experimental groups.
The table shows the following data: sample size (n), critical t-value, calculated t-value, degrees of freedom, actual p-value
and the conclusion regarding the null hypothesis. This analysis assesses the impact of 0.1 mM DCMU treatment on
photosynthetic rates compared to the control group.
Figure 1: Mean photosynthetic rate of Elodea densa in both control and experimental groups with a standard deviation
error bars the control group represent plants not exposed to DCMU, while the experimental group includes plants treated
with 0.1 mM DCMU. Error bars indicate the liability in photosynthetic rate among replicates. The x-axis displays the group
type, and the y-axis represent the mean photosynthetic rate.
UTSC Photosynthesis Journal
BIO A01 2025- Summer; 1(1): 1-6
Ray Esmaeili/1010942839
Discussion
This experiment tests the hypothesis that DCMU disrupt photosystem ll (PSll). The group treated with 0.1 mM DCMU

produce much less oxygen than the control group. This is on the same page with earlier studies showing this CMU interfere

with photosynthesis in aquatic plants (Baker & Rosenqvist, 2004). These results are important because they show that

herbicides like the CDMU can damage and harm aquatic ecosystems and plants and/or organisms by lowering plant's ability to

do photosynthesis which reduces oxygen levels in water and affects the whole food web including humans. Herbicides and

chemicals that are used in forums can be transferred into lakes and rivers causing considerable damage to the ecosystem.

However there are some inaccuracies in the experiment and data. For example, oxygen levels varied possibly due to

differences in plant cutting or light even though we try to control those fctors. Future experiments should include more

samples and replicates to improve accuracy. Our results showed that the DCMU reduces the photosynthetic rate in aquatic

plants, but it was not as notable and significant change. Comparing our results to other research, we see similar results with

other herbicides like atrazine (Huang et al., 2018). This shows that the impacts of herbicides can vary depending on on the

type of herbicide, plant, concentration, and amount of herbicide used. This study had limitations such as only 60 minutes

observation period and testing one type of herbicide. Future research should look at long term effects and how quickly the

environment or plants can recover after treatment. They also should look for how herbicide impact our food quality and if

DCMU stored in foods damages human body.

In conclusion the DCMU clearly inhibits photosynthesis in Elodea densa. Understanding how herbicides like the DCMU

affect aquatic plants is necessary for protecting ecosystems specially with increasing use of this chemicals in agriculture. Then

we are able to protect our food, ecosystem, and people.

Acknowledgements
I like to thank my laboratory instructor and TA, Mr. Dennison. I appreciate all of your support and time you dedicated to us.
References
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Huang J, Hu X, Chen H. 2018. Effects of atrazine on photosynthesis and growth of aquatic plants: A review. Aquatic Toxicology.
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Experimental Botany. 40(3):343-352.

Witztum A. 1978. Transcellular chloroplast banding patterns in leaves of Elodea densa induced by light and DCMU. Annals of
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