Abstract
2,2',4,4'-tetra-bromodiphenytol ether (BDE-47) is one of the ubiquitous organic pollutants in mangrove sediments. To reveal the toxic effects of BDE-47 on mangrove plants, the mangrove species Kandelia obovate was used to investigate the photosynthetic capacity effects and the molecular mechanisms involved after BDE-47 exposure at environment-related levels (50, 500, and 5000 ng g(-1) dw). After a 60-day exposure, the photosynthetic capacity was inhibited in K. obovata seedlings, and a decrease in the stomatal density and damage in the chloroplast ultrastructure in the leaves were found. Transcriptome sequencing showed that, following exposure to BDE-47, gene expression in photosynthesis-related pathways was predominantly suppressed in the leaves. The bioinformatics analysis indicated that BDE-47 exerts toxicity by inhibiting photosystem I activity and chlorophyll a/b-binding protein-related genes in the leaves of K. obovata. Thus, this study provides preliminary theoretical evidence for the toxic mechanism effect of BDE-47 on photosynthesis in mangrove species.