In search for new forestation tree species for future Central European climate conditions, Mediterranean evergreen oak taxa are investigated for their summer drought- and winter frost-hardiness. Here we report on the winter performance of the photosynthetic apparatus of Quercus × hispanica Lam. and its evergreen parental species Q. suber L. under extraordinary harsh winter conditions. Both taxa showed a strong decline of photosystem II (PSII) quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) with a concomitant increase in the deepoxidation state (DES) of the xanthophyll pigments depending on (severe) frost events during winter, and these parameters significantly correlated with minimum air temperatures during periods of chronic photoinhibition at mid-winter, but not at the onset of winter in response to the first frost nights. Fv/Fm and DES correlated with each other in both taxa throughout the winter. and V. Holland, W. Brüggemann.
A yellow leaf colouration mutant (named ycm) generated from rice T-DNA insertion lines was identified with less grana lamellae and low thylakoid membrane protein contents. At weak irradiance [50 µmol(photon) m-2 s-1], chlorophyll (Chl) contents of ycm were ≈20 % of those of WT and Chl a/b ratios were 3-fold that of wild type (WT). The leaf of ycm showed lower values in the actual photosystem 2 (PS2) efficiency (ΦPS2), photochemical quenching (qP), and the efficiency of excitation capture by open PS2 centres 1 (Fv'/Fm') than those of WT, except no difference in the maximal efficiency of PS2 photochemistry (Fv/Fm). With progress in irradiance [100 and 200 µmol(photon) m-2 s-1], there was a change in the photosynthetic pigment stoichiometry. In ycm, the increase of total Chl contents and the decrease in Chl a/b ratio were observed. ΦPS2, qP, and Fv'/Fm' of ycm increased gradually along with the increase of irradiance but still much less than in WT. The increase of xanthophyll ratio [(Z+A)/(V+A+Z)] associated with non-photochemical quenching (qN) was found in ycm which suggested that ycm dissipated excess energy through the turnover of xanthophylls. No significant differences in pigment composition were observed in WT under various irradiances, except Chl a/b ratio that gradually decreased. Hence the ycm mutant developed much more tardily than WT, which was caused by low photon energy utilization independent of irradiance. and Q. Chen ... [et al.].
The relationship between the activity of xanthophyll cycle and chlorophyll (Chl) metabolism was investigated using two cultivars, Helan No. 3 (seawater-tolerant cultivar) and Yuanye (seawater-sensitive cultivar), of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) plants cultured in Hoagland's nutrient solution, with or without seawater (40%). The results showed that, in plants of two cultivars with seawater, the xanthophyll cycle seems to show a principal protection mechanism against photoinhibition under seawater stress. Furthermore, accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in chloroplasts of two cultivars was enhanced by seawater to lower the activity of porphobilinogen deaminase. Namely, the conversion of porphobilinogen into uroporphyrinogen III involved in Chl biosynthetic processes was inhibited by seawater. In Helan No. 3 spinach plants with seawater, higher activity of xanthophyll cycle in the leaves dissipated more excess light energy, which appeared to lower the levels of ROS in chloroplasts. As a consequence, the Chl biosynthesis in Helan No. 3 leaves with seawater showed only a weak inhibition and the activity of chlorophyllase (Chlase) was not affected by seawater stress. In contrast, a more pronounced accumulation of ROS in chloroplasts of Yuanye leaves, which possess lower xanthophyll cycle activity, severely inhibited Chl biosynthesis and remarkably enhanced the activity of Chlase, which aggravates the decomposition of Chl. These results suggest that higher activity of xanthophyll cycle in seawater-tolerant spinach plays a role in maintaining Chl metabolic processes, probably by decreasing the levels of ROS, when the plants are cultured in the nutrient solution with seawater (40%). and J. Sun ... [et al.].
The response of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Akcent) to various photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFDs) and elevated [CO2] [700 μmol (CO2) mol-1; EC] was studied by gas exchange, chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence, and pigment analysis. In comparison with barley grown under ambient [CO2] [350 μmol (CO2) mol-1; AC] the EC acclimation resulted in a decrease in photosynthetic capacity, reduced stomatal conductance, and decreased total Chl content. The extent of acclimation depression of photosynthesis, the most pronounced for the plants grown at 730 μmol m-2 s-1 (PPFD730), may be related to the degree of sink-limitation. The increased non-radiative dissipation of absorbed photon energy for all EC plants corresponded to the higher de-epoxidation state of xanthophylls only for PPFD730 barley. Further, a pronounced decrease in photosystem 2 (PS2) photochemical efficiency (given as FV/FM) for EC plants grown at 730 and 1 200 μmol m-2 s-1 in comparison with AC barley was related to the reduced epoxidation of antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin back to violaxanthin in darkness. Thus the EC conditions sensitise the photosynthetic apparatus of high-irradiance acclimated barley plants (particularly PPFD730) to the photoinactivation of PS2. and I. Kurasová ... [et al.].
The effects of summer and winter stress on the chlorophyll and carotenoid contents and photosystem 2 efficiency were examined in six Mediterranean scrub species. These six species belong to two different plant functional types: drought semi-deciduous (Halimium halimifolium L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Erica scoparia L.) and evergreen sclerophylls (Juniperus phoenicea L., Pistacia lentiscus L., Myrtus communis L.). Two sites with different water availability were chosen. In the xerophytic site, despite they belong to two different functional types, R. officinalis and J. phoenicea showed a similar response. These were the most affected species in summer. H. halimifolium showed optimal values of Fv/Fm and non-significant seasonal changes in xanthophyll content. In the mesic site, E. scoparia and M. communis were apparently the most affected species by winter climatic conditions. P. lentiscus presented a pattern similar to H. halimifolium, except for elevated F0 values. In all the studied species, lutein plus zeaxanthin content was negatively correlated with Fv/Fm in summer and with leaf water potential, thus indicating that the thermal dissipation of energy was a general pattern for all species. Under stress, plant response is more species-specific than dependent on its functional type. and F. Ain-Lhout ... [et al.].
Responses of two sides of Rumex K-1 leaves to chilling stress (5 °C, photon flux density of 100 µmol m-2 s-1) were studied by using gas exchange, chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence, and spectrum reflectance techniques. The Chl and carotenoid contents in the two sides were not affected by chilling treatment, and both were higher in the adaxial side. The maximum quantum yield of photosystem (PS) 2 and fraction of functional PS1 in the abaxial side decreased more markedly than those in the adaxial side during the chilling treatment, indicating that the abaxial side was damaged more significantly than the adaxial side. Before chilling, there were no obvious differences in actual photochemical efficiency of PS2, photosynthesis, and photorespiration between two sides of the leaves. Under chilling stress, the actual photochemical efficiency of PS2, photosynthesis, and photorespiration all declined more significantly in the abaxial side, which was partly attributed to lower carboxylation efficiency in the abaxial side than that in the adaxial side. Non-photochemical quenching was higher in the adaxial side, though the de-epoxidation of xanthophyll cycle pigments' pool on basis of Chl was higher in the abaxial side. Both the slower decrease in the photochemical quenching and the higher non-photochemical quenching may account for the higher resistance to chilling stress in the adaxial side of Rumex K-1 leaves. and P.-M. Li ... [et al.].