Lichen thalli were exposed to 4 regimes differing in irradiance and duration of irradiation. Photosynthetic efficiency of thalli was monitored by chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and xanthophyll cycle analysis. Maximal quantum yield of photosystem 2 (FV/FM) decreased gradually with time in long-term treatment. The effect of additional short-term high irradiance (HI) treatment applied each 24 h was not significant. Nevertheless, short-term HI applied repeatedly on thalli kept in the dark led to a significant decrease of FV/FM. Non-photochemical quenching recorded during the long-term treatment corresponded to the content of zeaxanthin (Z). In short-term treatment, however, proportion of Z (and antheraxanthin) to total amount of xanthophyll cycle pigments recovered to the initial values every 24 h after each repeated short-term HI event in thalli kept in dark. Thus duration of irradiation rather than irradiance and frequency of HI events is important for a decrease in primary photosynthetic processes in wet thalli of Lasallia pustulata. Rapidly responding photoprotective mechanisms, such as conversion of xanthophyll cycle pigments, are involved mainly in short-term irradiation events, even at HI. and M. Barták ... [et al.].
In lichens, ribitol is known as a carbon storage compound, an osmotic agens involved effectively in cell compartments protection during dehydration of lichen thalli and as a cryoprotective compound. In our study, we investigated the effect of ribitol on photochemical processes of photosynthesis in foliose lichens [Lasallia pustulata (L.) Mérat., Umbilicaria hirsuta (Sw. ex Westr.) Hoffm.] at low temperature. The effects of three concentrations of ribitol, added externally to thalli segments on several chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence parameters, were evaluated. The 72 h exposition to 8, 16, and 26 mM ribitol led to a concentration-dependent increase in FV/FM, decrease in non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) but no change in quantum yield of photosystem II photochemistry (ΦPSII) values at -5 °C). At higher temperature (0, +5 °C), no effect of ribitol addition on the photosynthetic parameters was apparent. and J. Hájek, P. Váczi, M. Barták.