The rare and endangered plant, Begonia fimbristipula, shows red and green phenotypes, differentiated by a coloration of the abaxial leaf surface. In this study, we compared morphological and physiological traits of both phenotypes. The results showed that the red phenotype contained a significantly higher chlorophyll content, closer arrangement of chloroplasts, and a more developed grana. In addition, the red phenotype transferred significantly more light energy into the electron transport during the photoreaction. Similarly, the maximum photosynthetic rate, instantaneous water-use and light-use efficiencies of the red B. fimbristipula were all significantly higher than those of the green individuals. The differentiation between these two phenotypes could be caused by their different survival strategies under the same conditions; epigenetic variations may be in some correlation with this kind of phenotype plasticity. Red B. fimbristipula has an advantage in resource acquisition and utilization and possesses a better self-protection mechanism against changes in environmental conditions, therefore, it might adapt better to global climate change compared to the green phenotype. Further studies on the possible epigenetic regulation of those phenotypic differentiations are needed., Y. Wang, L. Shao, J. Wang, H. Ren, H. Liu, Q. M. Zhang, Q. F. Guo, X. W. Chen., and Seznam literatury
Although maize (Zea mays L.) plants utilize light efficiently, the expression of high light-efficient genes and stomatal factors is regulated by light conditions and affects photosynthesis of plants. In this study, we investigated the effects of different light qualities on the expression of the photosynthetic genes, such as pep1, pdk1, ZmSTOMAGEN, and psad1, and on stomatal function in maize seedlings. For both maize genotypes, Zhengdan 958 and Xianyu 335, light with wavelengths shorter than 490 nm enhanced the expression of pdk1 and ZmSTOMAGEN, whereas the expression of pdk1 positively correlated with ZmSTOMAGEN. Light with wavelengths longer than 630 nm or shorter than 490 nm (band pass filter) increased the expression of pep1 and psad1. Although the expression of four genes in Zhengdan 958 was significantly higher than that of Xianyu 335, changes in the expression of ZmSTOMAGEN, pdk1, or pep1 exerted no significant influence on stomatal function and photosynthetic rate. Our results suggest that light with wavelengths shorter than 490 nm promoted the expression of stomatal proteins and pdk1, facilitated the absorption of inorganic elements, and contributed to stomatal function in photosynthesis. Meanwhile, light with wavelengths longer than 630 nm inhibited the expression of pep1 and pdk1. Light with wavelengths longer than 630 nm or shorter than 490 nm promoted the expression of pep1, pdk1, and psad1., T. D. Liu, X. W. Zhang, Y. Xu, S. Q. Liu, X. W. Chen., and Obsahuje bibliografii