Cadmium inhibits photosynthetic capacity of plants by disturbing protein conformations, whereas phytocystatins prevent degradation of target proteins and are involved in abiotic stress tolerance. Two mustard (Brassica juncea L.) cultivars, Ro Agro 4001 and Amruta, were grown with Cd (50 µM) in order to study physiological and biochemical basis of differences in Cd tolerance. Amruta accumulated higher Cd and H2O2 concentrations in leaves than that of Ro Agro 4001. Cd significantly decreased photosynthesis and growth of plants in both cultivars by reducing a chlorophyll content, gas exchange parameters, and activity of Rubisco; the effects were more prominent in Amruta than those in Ro Agro 4001. The greater photosynthesis and growth of Ro Agro 4001 under Cd stress might be attributed to its higher phytocystatin activity together with greater ascorbate peroxidase activity, photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency, sulphur assimilation (ATP-sulphurylase activity and S content), and contents of cysteine and reduced glutathione compared to Amruta. In contrast, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was higher in Amruta than that of Ro Agro 4001 under control conditions, whereas the Cd treatment increased significantly the SOD activity in both cultivars with the greater increase in Ro Agro 4001. The fluorescence spectra of phytocystatin showed a lesser change in Ro Agro 4001 under Cd stress than that in Amruta suggesting higher resistance of Ro Agro 4001 to Cd. The higher phytocystatin activity under Cd stress in Ro Agro 4001 compared to Amruta enabled the plants to protect their proteins more efficiently. This resulted in a greater increase of photosynthetic capacity in Ro Agro 4001 than that of Amruta. Thus, the phytocystatin activity may be considered as a physiological parameter for augmenting photosynthesis and growth of mustard under Cd stress., T. S. Per, S. Khan, M. Asgher, B. Bano, N. A. Khan., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Two foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) varieties were subjected to different shading intensity treatments during a grain-filling stage in a field experiment in order to clarify physiological mechanisms of low-light effects on the yield. Our results showed that the grain fresh mass per panicle, yield, photosynthetic pigment contents, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, and electron transport rate decreased with the increase of shading intensity, whereas the intercellular CO2 concentration increased in both varieties. In addition, shading changed a double-peak diurnal variation of photosynthesis to a one-peak curve. In conclusion, the lower yield of foxtail millet was caused mainly by a reduction of grain mass assimilated, a decline in chlorophyll content, and the low photosynthetic rate due to low light during the grain-filling stage. Reduced light energy absorption and conversion, restricted electron transfer, and reduced stomatal conductance might cause the decrease in photosynthesis., X. Y. Yuan, L. G. Zhang, L. Huang, X. Qi, Y. Y. Wen, S. Q. Dong, X. E. Song, H. F. Wang, P. Y. Guo., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Cell wall-bound phenolics (CWP) play an important role in the mechanisms of plant acclimation to soil drought. The study involved CWP analyses in 50 strains and 50 doubled haploid (DH) lines of winter triticale exposed to drought at their vegetative and generative stages. CWP in the plants experiencing drought at the generative stage positively correlated with their leaf water contents. The strains and DH lines characterized by high content of CWP showed higher leaf water content and higher activity of photosynthetic apparatus when exposed to drought at the generative stage compared to the strains and DH lines with the low CWP content. Furthermore, when drought subsided at the generative stage, the strains and DH lines richer in CWP demonstrated higher regeneration potential and their grain yield loss was smaller., K. Hura, A. Ostrowska, K. Dziurka, T. Hura., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
2-years-old cypress needles (A2) were physiologically most active with regard to net photosynthetic (PN) and electron transport rates. Variable to maximum fluorescence (Fv/Fm) ratios of dark-adapted needles were higher in A2 needles than in current year (A1) or senescent (A4) needles. Lower Fv/Fm values in these stages seemed to be caused not by photoinhibition but by a low photochemical capacity as suggested from the chlorophyll (Chl) a/b ratios. In isolated thylakoids, lower rates of whole chain and photosystem 2 (PS2) activities were observed in A4 needles, while higher rates were observed in A2 needles. A similar trend was noticed for contents of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPC) and total soluble proteins. The artificial exogenous electron donor Mn2+ failed to restore the loss of PS2 activity in 3-year-old (A3) and A4 needles, while diphenylcarbazide and NH2OH significantly restored the loss of PS2 activity. The marked loss of PS2 activity in A4 needles was primarily the result of the loss of 33, 28-25, 23, and 17 kDa polypeptides. A marked loss of RuBPC activity in A4 needles is mainly due to the loss of 15 (SSU) and 55 (LSU) kDa polypeptides. and N. La Porta ... [et al.].
Contents of chlorophylls and carotenoids in yellow-green mutant Biao 810S were approximately half those in control type 810S. Biao 810S had fewer grana lamellae and looser structure than 810S, lower volume of starch granules in chloroplasts, but under high temperature and high irradiance the net photosynthetic rate (PN) of Biao 810S was higher than that of 810S. The chlorophyll fluorescence parameter Fv/Fm of Biao 810S was little higher and photochemical quenching qP was obviously higher than those of 810S. No significant differences in PN and biomass were observed in their hybrid combination. The yellow-green mutant phenotype may be a useful genetic marker of P(T)GMS rice used for hybrid seed production. and L.-J. Ou ... [et al.].
The rate of accumulation of total chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoids (Car) of leaves grown under high irradiance, HI (30 and 45 W m-2) was faster than at moderate irradiance, MI (15 W m-2). However, the senescence phase started earlier in the samples and proceeded at a faster rate. Chl a/b and Chl (a+b)/Car values showed faster loss of Chl a (compared to Chl b) and Chl (a+b) (compared to Car) in HI leaves. Protein accumulation and loss were also similar to that of Chl (a+b) content. Increase in Chl fluorescence during the development phase may suggest a gradual change in thylakoid organisation, however, the temporal kinetics were different in HI and MI samples. Increase in fluorescence polarisation during senescence of HI leaves compared to the control (MI) suggests conversion of thylakoid membranes to gel phase. Chloroplasts prepared from HI seedlings showed higher rate of photochemical activities, however, the activity declined earlier and at faster rate compared to the control. and Rajendra K. Behera, Nakul K. Choudhury.
Photosynthetic parameters were studied in Arbutus unedo L. trees growing at either ambient (AC) or elevated EC (mean 465 µmol mol-1) CO2 concentration near a natural CO2 vent in Orciatico, Italy Diurnal courses of net photosynthetic rate (PN), ratio of variable to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm), and quantum yield of electron transport through photosystem 2 (Φ2) were measured on sun and shade leaves. The contents of N, C, Ca, K, P, and chlorophyll (Chl) and specific leaf area (SLA) in these leaf categories were also determined. A morning peak and midday depression of PN were found for both AC and EC sun leaves. Long-term EC caused little or no down-acclimation of PN in sum leaves. The estimate of total daily CO2 uptake was lower in AC leaves than in EC leaves. In shade leaves, it reached up to 70 % of the value of sun leaves. The Fv/Fm ratio showed decreasing trend in the morning, reached a minimum at midday (90 % of dawn value), and then increased in the afternoon. The EC had no effect on Fv/Fm either in sun or shade leaves. Plants grown near the CO2 spring had lower Chl content, higher SLA, and higher Ca and K contents than plants grown under AC. and M. Barták, A. Raschi, R. Tognetti.
Australian carnivorous pitcher plant Cephalotus follicularis Labill. produces two types of leaves. During the spring time, the plant produces a foliage type of noncarnivorous leaf called lamina. Later, the second type of leaf is produced - carnivorous pitcher. Using simultaneous measurements of gas exchange and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence photosynthetic efficiency of these two distinct forms of leaves were compared. In addition stomatal density, an important component of gas exchange, and Chl concentration were also determined. Pitcher trap had lower net photosynthetic rate
(PN) in comparison to noncarnivorous lamina, whereas the rate of respiration (RD) was not significantly different. This was in accordance with lower stomatal density and Chl concentration in the pitcher trap. On the other hand maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm) and effective quantum yield of photochemical energy conversion in PSII (ΦPSII) was not significantly different. Nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) was significantly higher in the lamina at higher irradiance. These data are in accordance with hypothesis that changing the leaf shape in carnivorous plants to make it a better trap generally makes it less efficient at photosynthesis. However, the pitcher of Cephalotus had much higher PN than it was expected from the data set of the genus Nepenthes. Because it is not possible to optimize for contrasting function such as photosynthesis and carnivory, it is hypothesized that Cephalotus pitchers are less elaborated for carnivorous function than the pitchers of Nepenthes. and A. Pavlovič.
Photosynthesis is amongst the plant cell functions that are highly sensitive to any type of changes. Sun and shade conditions are prevalent in fields as well as dense forests. Dense forests face extreme sun and shade conditions, and plants adapt themselves accordingly. Sun flecks cause changes in plant metabolic processes. In the field, plants have to face high light intensity and survive under such conditions. Sun and shade type of plants develops a respective type of chloroplasts which help plants to survive and perform photosynthesis under adverse conditions. PSII and Rubisco behave differently under different sun and shade conditions. In this review, morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes under conditions of sun (high light) and shade (low light) on the process of photosynthesis, as well as the tolerance and adaptive mechanisms involved for the same, were summarized., S. Mathur, L. Jain, A. Jajoo., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
Limitations in photosystem function and photosynthetic electron flow were investigated during leaf senescence in two field-grown plants, i.e., Euphorbia dendroides L. and Morus alba L., a summer- and winter-deciduous, shrub and tree, respectively. Analysis of fast chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence transients and post-illumination fluorescence yield increase were used to assess photosynthetic properties at various stages of senescence, the latter judged from the extent of Chl loss. In both plants, the yield of primary photochemistry of PSII and the content of PSI remained quite stable up to the last stages of senescence, when leaves were almost yellow. However, the potential for linear electron flow along PSII was limited much earlier, especially in E. dendroides, by an apparent inactivation of the oxygen-evolving complex and a lower efficiency of electron transfer to intermediate carriers. On the contrary, the corresponding efficiency of electron transfer from intermediate carriers to final acceptors of PSI was increased. In addition, cyclic electron flow around PSI was accelerated with the progress of senescence in E. dendroides, while a corresponding trend in M. alba was not statistically significant. However, there was no decrease in PSI activity even at the last stages of senescence. We argue that a switch to cyclic electron flow around PSI during leaf senescence may have the dual role of replenishing the ATP and maintaining a satisfactory nonphotochemical energy quenching, since both are limited by hindered linear electron transfer., C. Kotakis, A. Kyzeridou, Y. Manetas., and Obsahuje bibliografii