Light is critical in determining plant structure and functioning in dune ecosystems, which are characterised by high incident and reflected radiation. Light variations demand great plasticity of the photosynthetic apparatus. This study assessed the phenotypic plasticity of foredune species by analysing their light response and dark recovery curves measured under field conditions. We also addressed the question how coexisting species, structurally distinct, differed in their photochemical efficiency in response to short-term changes in light. Finally, we examined how the varying intensity of stressors operating along a dune gradient affected responses to light. The species differed in light use strategies but showed similar patterns of the dark recovery. Species differences in photochemistry varied seasonally, with species being winter specialists, summer specialist or generalists. Some aspects of their photochemistry varied significantly along the gradient. Unexpectedly, other traits did not vary as predicted. For example, changes in light efficiency of plants along the gradient were not consistent with assumed directional changes in the severity of stressors. The different light use strategies observed in coexisting species did not conform to the prediction that stressors constrain the range of possible functional designs in harsh environments. However, the species followed very similar patterns of post-illumination recovery, which suggests that evolutionary pressures might be acting to maintain similar recovery mechanisms. Our results indicated that dune gradients might be nondirectional, which determines unpredictable patterns of variation in leaf traits along the dune gradient. Seasonal differences in the relative performance may allow species to coexist where otherwise one species would exclude the other., R. Bermúdez, R. Retuerto., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Its high oxidant capacity and ability to generate reactive oxygen species cause ozone toxicity. We studied the effect of ambient ozone on chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence, antioxidant enzymes, ascorbate contents, and lipid peroxidation in potatoes grown in open-top chambers in the field. In plants grown in non-filtered air (NFA), the development of non-photochemical quenching brought about a decrease in photosystem 2 (PS2) photochemical efficiency. Also the ability of PS2 to reduce the primary acceptor QA was lower than in charcoal-filtered, ozone-free air (CFA). Changes in Chl fluorescence yield were associated with changes in the thylakoid membrane. Ozone altered chloroplast membrane properties, as indicated by an increase in membrane lipid peroxidation in FNA-leaves compared to CFA plants. The ascorbate pool and activities of antioxidant enzymes were used for an indication of the detoxification system state in NFA and CFA leaves, whereby ozone affects the ascorbate concentration and decreases the antioxidant enzymes activities. The capacity of both detoxifying systems together was not high enough to protect potato plants against ambient ozone concentrations which reduced the photosynthetic yield in this potato cultivar. and A. Calatayud, J. W. Alvarado, E. Barreno.
Net rates of photosynthesis (PN) saturated by irradiance of >500 μmol m-2 s-1 (PAR) significantly decreased in water-stressed potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Kufri Sindhuri) plants. The quantum yield of photochemical energy conversion (Fv/Fm), relative electron transport rate (ETR), and photochemical quenching (Qp) exhibited a parallel decline at high irradiance. A slight decrease in relative water content (RWC) was accompanied by a drastic decline in leaf water potential (Ψw) from -0.2 to -1.0 MPa. Dehydrated leaves showed an increase in the amount of total soluble sugars per unit leaf area which inhibited the photosynthesis in a feedback manner. After rewatering, PN and Fv/Fm were restored to the values of control plants within 24 h, and the restoration was accompanied by a proportionate lowering of content of total soluble sugars in the leaves. and P. S. Basu, Ashoo Sharma, N. P. Sukumaran.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) plantlets were propagated in vitro and acclimated under different photosynthetic photon flux densities (60 and 250 µmol m-2 s-1 = LI and HI, respectively). Increases in chlorophyll (Chl) content and Chl a/b ratio were found under both irradiances. In vitro plantlets (day 0) exhibited a low photosynthesis, but chloroplasts from in vitro leaves contained well developed grana and osmiophillic globules. Photoinhibition in leaves formed in vitro was characterized by decrease of photochemical efficiency and quantum efficiency of photosystem 2 photochemistry in HI treatment during acclimation. The new leaves formed during acclimation in both treatments showed a higher photosynthetic capacity than the leaves formed in vitro. Also activities of antioxidant enzymes of micropropagated ginger plantlets changed during acclimation. and Q. Z. Guan ... [et al.].
Graft union development in plants has been studied mainly by destructive methods such as histological studies. The aim of this work was to evaluate whether the chlorophyll fluorescence imaging (CFI) technique is sensitive enough to reflect changes at the cellular level in different Solanaceae grafted plants 30 d after grafting, when both grafted partners were well fused and strong enough in all plant combinations. The pepper cultivar ‘Adige’ was grafted onto different Capsicum spp. accessions typified with different compatibility degrees; eggplant was grafted on Solanum torvum and pepper homografts as compatible unions; pepper was grafted on S. torvum and on tomato as incompatible unions. ‘Adige’/’Adige’ and ‘Adige’/pepper A25 showed a higher maximum quantum efficiency of PSII associated with higher values of actual quantum efficiency of PSII and photochemical quenching as well as with vascular regeneration across the graft interface. Our results highlighted that CFI changes reflected histological observations in grafted Solanaceae plants., C. Penella, A. Pina, A. San Bautista, S. López-Galarza, Á. Calatayud., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Lianas perform better than co-occurring trees in secondary forests or disturbed areas. Lianas and trees differ strikingly in water use strategy, which may result in a significant difference in photosynthetic light use between both growth forms. However, the difference in the photosynthetic efficiency and light energy dissipation between these two growth forms is poorly understood. Moreover, photorespiration is an important mechanism of photoprotection under conditions of high light. In this study, we used Bridelia stipularis (Linn.) Bl. (liana) and Strophioblachia fimbricalyx Boerl. (tree) in order to measure the response curves of the gas exchange and photosynthetic electron flow to the incident light gradients and intercellular CO2 concentration, as well as the hydraulic conductivity. We tested whether the photochemical efficiency and photorespiration differed between both growth forms. Our results clearly demonstrated that B. stipularis possessed a significantly higher stem and leaf specific hydraulic conductivity, total electron flow, and maximum rate of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate regeneration compared to the sympatric tree S. fimbricalyx. Correspondingly, B. stipularis exhibited a significantly higher photochemical quenching coefficient and electron flow to photorespiration relative to S. fimbricalyx under saturating light levels. We suggested that photorespiration might play an important role in photoprotection for both species under high light, but particularly for B. stipularis. These findings could enrich our knowledge of the superior photosynthetic and growth performance of lianas over the co-occurring trees., S.-B. Zhang, J.-L. Zhang, K.-F. Cao., and Seznam literatury
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.].
Industrial chicory, Cichorium intybus L., is cultivated for the production of inulin. Most varieties of industrial chicory exhibit rather poor early growth, which limits further yield improvements in their European cultivation area. The poor early growth could be due to suboptimum adaptation of the gene pool to growth at low temperatures, sometimes in combination with high light intensities, which is typical of early-spring mornings. We have used chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence to evaluate the response of young plants of the cultivar 'Hera' to low temperatures and high light intensities. Plants were grown at three temperatures: 16°C (reference), 8°C (intermediate), and 4°C (cold stress). Light-response measurements were carried out at different light intensities in combination with different measurement temperatures. Parameters that quantify the photosystem II (PSII) operating efficiency (including PSII maximum efficiency and PSII efficiency factor) and nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) are important to evaluate the stress in terms of severity, the photosynthetics processes affected, and acclimation to lower growth temperatures. The results clearly demonstrate that in young industrial chicory plants the photosynthetic system adapts to lower growth temperatures. However, to fully understand the plant response to the stresses studied and to evaluate the long-term effect of the stress applied on the growth dynamics, the subsequent dark relaxation dynamics should also be investigated. and S. Devacht ... [et al.].
The mechanistic basis for protection of exogenous ascorbate against photoinhibition at low temperature was examined in leaves of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Exposure of intact leaves to chilling temperature resulted in a drastic decrease in the speed of development of non-photochemical fluorescence quenching (NPQ). This was related to the low temperature-imposed restriction on the formation of the fast relaxing component of NPQ (qf). Feeding with 20 mM ascorbate markedly increased the rate of qf development at chilling temperature due primarily to the enhanced rate of zeaxanthin (Z) formation. On the other hand, ascorbate feeding had no influence on photosystem 2 (PS2)-driven electron flow. The reduced state of the PS2 primary electron acceptor QA decreased in ascorbate-fed leaves exposed to high irradiance at chilling temperature owing to the increased Z-associated thermal energy dissipation in the light-harvesting antenna system of PS2. Furthermore, ascorbate feeding increased the photosynthetic apparatus of rice leaves to resist photoinhibition at low temperature. The protective effect of exogenous ascorbate was fully accounted for by the enhanced xanthophyll cycle activity. and C.-C. Xu ... [et al.].
To evaluate utility of different salt-tolerant lines, three soybean lines with different resistance to salt were planted in the field under control and salt-stress conditions for two years. The results showed that net photosynthetic rate (PN) was significantly different among lines at the anthesis stage and decreased on average by 13.6-34.1% under conditions of salt stress. The stomatal conductance was a primary limiting factor for the reduction of PN under salt stress. Meanwhile, the grain yield (GY) decreased on average by 14.0-35.3% among lines under salt stress. The salt-tolerant lines S111-9 and S113-6 showed higher PN and GY under salt stress in comparison with the salt-sensitive cultivar Melrose. Regression analysis indicated that there was extremely significantly positive correlation between GY and PN under field conditions. Therefore, PN might be used as a physiological index for field resistance of soybean to salt stress., Y. He, Y. Chen, C. L. Yu, K. X. Lu, Q. S. Jiang, J. L. Fu, G. M. Wang, D. A. Jiang., and Obsahuje bibliografii