Predicted future climatic changes for the Mediterranean region give additional importance to the study of photooxidative stress in local economic species subjected to combined drought and
high-temperature conditions. Under this context, the impact of these stresses on photosynthesis, energy partitioning, and membrane lipids, as well as the potential ability to attenuate oxidative damage, were investigated in Ceratonia siliqua L. Two thermal regimes (LT: 25/18°C; HT: 32/21°C) and three soil water conditions (control, water stress, and rewetting) were considered. HT exacerbated the adverse effects of water shortage on photosynthetic rates (PN) and PSII function. The decrease in PN was 33% at LT whereas at HT it was 84%. In spite of this, the electron transport rate (ETR) was not affected, which points to an increased allocation of reductants to sinks other than CO2 assimilation. Under LT conditions, water stress had no significant effects on yield of PSII photochemistry (ΦPSII) and yields of regulated (ΦNPQ) and nonregulated (ΦNO) energy dissipation. Conversely, drought induced a significant decrease of ΦPSII and a concomitant increase of ΦNO in HT plants, thereby favouring the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, signs of lipid peroxidation damage were detected in HT plants, in which drought caused an increase of 40% in malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Concurrently, a marked increase in proline content was observed, while the activities of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were unaffected. Despite the generation of a moderate oxidative stress response, C. siliqua revealed a great capability for photosynthetic recovery 36 h after rewatering, which suggests that the species can cope with predicted climate change. and M. L. Osório ... [et al.].
In view of predicted climatic changes for the Mediterranean region, study of high temperature and drought impacts on physiological responses of endangered species regains relevance. In this context, micropropagated plants of Tuberaria major, a critically endangered species, endemic of Algarve, were transferred to a controlled-environment cabinet with day/night temperatures set at 25/18°C (Reference) or 32/21°C (HT). After 15 days of HT acclimation, some plants were subjected to progressive drought followed by rewatering. The enhancement of temperature alone did not affect water relations and photosynthetic rates (PN) but the stomatal conductance (gs) exhibited a 3-fold increase in comparison with reference plants. The maximum quantum yield of photosystem (PS) II (Fv/Fm), the effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (ΦPSII), carotenoid (Car) and anthocyanin content enhanced, whereas the quantum yields of regulated (ΦNPQ) and nonregulated (ΦNO) energy dissipation decreased. Drought combined with HT reduced predawn leaf water potential to values of about -1.3 MPa, which had adverse effects on gas exchange and PSII activity. Values of PN and gs were 71 and 79% lower than those of HT plants. An impairment of photochemical activity was also observed: the decrease in ΦPSII and the increase of ΦNPQ. However, an irreversible photoinhibitory damage had not occurred. Carotenoid and anthocyanin content remained elevated and soluble sugars (SS) increased twice, whereas proline and MDA accumulation was not detected. On the first 24 h after water-stress relief, gs, PN, ΦPSII, and ΦNPQ did not recover, but SS returned to the reference level. Overall, T. major acquired an adequate capacity for a protection against the development of oxidative stress during drought and water recovery under HT. These findings suggest that T. major is prepared to deal with predicted climate changes., M. L. Osório, J. Osório, A. Romano., and Obsahuje bibliografii