Seasonal changes in water relations, net photosynthetic rate (PN), and fluorescence of chlorophyll (Chl) a of two perennial C3 deciduous shrubs, Ipomoea carnea and Jatropha gossypifolia, growing in a thorn scrub in Venezuela were studied in order to establish the possible occurrence of photoinhibition during dry season and determine whether changes in photochemical activity of photosystem 2 (PS2) may explain variations of PN in these species. Leaf water potential (ψ) decreased from -0.2 to -2.1 MPa during drought in both species. The PN decreased with ψ in I. carnea and J. gossypifolia by 64 and 74 %, respectively. Carboxylation efficiency (CE) decreased by more than 50 and 70 % in I. carnea and J. gossypifolia, respectively. In I. carnea, relative stomatal limitation (Ls) increased by 17 % and mesophyll limitation (Lm) by 65 % during drought, while in J. gossypifolia Ls decreased by 27 % and Lm increased by 51 %. Drought caused a reduction in quantum yield of PS2 (ϕPS2) in both species. Drought affected the capacity of energy dissipation of leaves, judging from the changes in the photochemical (qP) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) coefficients. Photoinhibition during drought in I. carnea and J. gossypifolia was evidenced in the field by a drop in the maximum quantum yield of PS2 (Fv/Fm) below 0.8 and also by non-coordinated changes in ϕPS2 and quantum yield of non-photochemical excitation quenching (Yn). Total soluble protein content on an area basis increased with ψ but the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase content remained unchanged. A reduction of total Chl content with drought was observed. Hence in the species studied photoinhibition occurred, which imposed an important limitation on carbon assimilation during drought. and W. Tezara ... [et al.].
In tobacco leaves inoculated with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), changes in chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoid contents, parameters of slow Chl fluorescence kinetics, i.e. the maximum quantum yield of photosystem (PS2) photochemistry Fv/Fm, the effective quantum yield of photochemical energy conversion in PS2 Φ2, ratio of quantum yields of photochemical and concurrent non-photochemical processes in PS2 Fv/F0, non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), and photochemical activities of isolated chloroplasts from systemically infected tobacco leaves were investigated. We compared two successive stages of infection, the first in the stage of vein clearing at 9th day post inoculation (dpi) and the second at 22nd dpi when two different regions, i.e. light- (LGI) or dark-green (DGI) islands in the infected leaf were apparent and symptoms were fully developed. These two different regions were measured separately. The Chl and carotenoid contents in infected leaves decreased with a progression of infection and were lowest in LGI in the second stage. Also the ratio of Chl a/b declined in similar manner. The maximum quantum yield of PS2 photochemistry Fv/Fm, was decreased in the following order: first stage, DGI, and LGI. The same is true for the ratio Fv/F0. The decrease of Φ2 in infected leaves declined as compared to their controls. On the contrary, NPQ increased in infected leaves, the highest value was found in the first infection stage. Photochemical activities of the whole electron transport chain in isolated chloroplasts dramatically declined with the progression of symptoms, the lowest value was in LGI. Similarly, but to a lesser extent, the activity of PS2 in isolated chloroplasts decreased in infected leaves. Generally, the most marked impairment of the photosynthetic apparatus was manifested in the LGI of infected leaves. and N. Wilhelmová ... [et al.].
Pachyrhizus ahipa (Wedd.) Parodi, originally from Latin America, is an agronomy interesting legume crop due to high seed protein content and saccharides-rich tuber root. Its capacity of adaptation to Mediterranean climate, where heat and water stress are frequently associated, is being tested. Two accessions of P. ahipa (AC 102 and AC 524) differing in field production were compared as concerns the effects of water stress and high temperature on photosynthetic performance. Membrane integrity was also evaluated through electrolyte leakage (injury index, I%), lipid composition, and ultrastructure observations. Short-term heat stress (40 °C) did not affect net photosynthetic rate (PN), stomatal conductance (gs), and most of fluorescence parameters in both accessions, what was consistent with low electrolyte leakage. However, photosynthetic capacity (Pmax) showed a significant reduction, AC 524 being more affected than AC 102. Relative water content (RWC) below 70 % caused a drastic decrease in PN and gs. Fluorescence parameters, Pmax, and I% were affected in the two accessions, which also presented a strong reduction (42 %) in total fatty acids (TFA). Contents of galactolipids were drastically reduced, and changes in their saturation also occurred, namely a decrease in linolenic acid (C18:3) percentage of monogalactosyl-diacylglycerol (MGDG) in both accessions. Thylakoid ultrastructure in AC 524 submitted to drought showed disorganisation of grana stacking. Mitochondria presented signs of injured cristae. When water-stressed plants were subjected to high temperature, photosynthesis and fluorescence parameters did not show significant additional changes in both accessions. The exposure of drought stressed plants to 40 °C further increased electrolyte leakage in AC 524, but not in AC 102. Chloroplasts, mitochondria, and plasmalemma showed an increased disorganisation. Vesicles appeared in the cytoplasm, which became electron-transparent, reflecting a strong reduction in the number of ribosomes. Hence AC 102 was less affected than AC 524 as regards some components of photosynthetic process, namely Pmax and membrane integrity. This could account for its better yield production previously observed in field grown plants. and M. C. Matos ... [et al.].
Diurnal patterns of gas exchange and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence parameters of photosystem 2 (PS2) as well as Chl content were analyzed in Reaumuria soongorica (Pall.) Maxim., a perennial semi-shrub during dehydration and rehydration. The net photosynthetic rate (PN), maximum photochemical efficiency of PS2 (variable to maximum fluorescence ratio, Fv/Fm), quantum efficiency of non-cyclic electron transport of PS2, and Chl content decreased, but non-photochemical quenching of fluorescence and carotenoid content increased in stems with the increasing of drought stress. 6 d after re-hydration, new leaves budded from stems. In the re-watered plants, the chloroplast function was restored and Chl a fluorescence returned to a similar level as in the control plants. This improved hydraulic adjustment in plant triggered a positive effect on ion flow in the tissues and increased shoot electrical admittance. Thus R. soongorica plants are able to sustain drought stress through leaf abscission and keep part of Chl content in stems. and D. H. Xu ... [et al.].
Three-month-old plants of mulberry (Morus alba L. cv. Kanva-2) were subjected to a drought stress by withholding water supply. As the leaf water potential (ΨW) was dropping progressively with the severity of treatment and increasing stress duration, the values of leaf area, dry mass accumulation, total chlorophyll (Chl) content, net photosynthetic rate (PN), stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration rate (E) were declined. The photosystem 2 (PS2) photochemical efficiency significantly decreased only at a severe stress treatment. The intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) remained unaltered during a mild stress, yet it increased under moderate and severe stresses. The Ci/gs ratio reflected the mesophyll efficiency during water stress. Rewatering of the plants led to an almost complete recovery of PN, E, and gs, indicating that a short-term stress brings about reversible effects only. and S. Ramanjulu ... [et al.].
High level of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) gene was stably inherited and transferred from the male parent, PEPC transgenic rice, into a female parent, japonica rice cv. 9516. Relative to the female parent, the produced JAAS45 pollen lines exhibited high PEPC activity (17-fold increase) and also higher photosynthetic rates (about 36 %-fold increase). The JAAS45 pollen lines were more tolerant to photoinhibition and to photo-oxidative stress. Furthermore, JAAS45 pollen lines, as well as their male parent, were tested to exhibit a limiting C4 cycle by feeding with exogenous C4 primary products such as oxaloacetate (OAA). Thus the PEPC gene and photosynthetic characteristics of PEPC transgenic rice could be stably transferred to the hybrid progenies, which might open a new breeding approach to the integration of conventional hybridization and biological technology. and L. Ling, B. J. Zhang, D. M. Jiao.
Chlorophyll content, photosystem 2 functioning (Fv/Fm, Fv/F0), activity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, and net photosynthetic rates (PN) of flag leaf blade, sheath, peduncle, and ear organs were assessed in large-ear type (Pin 7) and small-ear type (ND93) wheat cultivars. Some differences were found in photosynthetic properties between different green plant parts, the values of all studied parameters in ear parts being higher in Pin7 than in ND93. Furthermore, ear surface areas and ear PN in 26 wheat genotypes measured at anthesis showed highly significant positive correlation with grain mass per ear. Hence a greater capability of ear photosynthesis may result in a greater grain yield in large-ear type cultivars. and Zhi-Min Wang, Ai-Li Wei, Dan-Man Zheng.
Pot trial in greenhouse was conducted using cumulic cinnamon soil from North China to study the effects of zinc deficiency on CO2 exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, the intensity of lipid peroxidation, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in leaves of maize seedlings. Zn deficiency resulted in a reduction of net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance to H2O. The maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem 2 (PS2) and the PS2 activity were depressed, while the pool size of the plastoquinone molecules was not affected by Zn deficiency. The content of super oxygen anion radical (O2.-) and the intensity of lipid peroxidation as assessed by malonyldialdehyde content in Zn-deficient leaves were higher than those in Zn-sufficient leaves. The activity of SOD increased with Zn application. The adverse influence of Zn-deficiency on the light stage of photosynthesis is probably one of possible reasons for the limitation of photosynthetic capacity in maize leaves. and H. Wang, J. Y. Jin.
Plant growth, chlorophyll (Chl) content, photosynthetic gas exchange, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCO) enzyme activity, and Chl fluorescence in radish (Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus) plants were examined after turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) infection. Plant fresh mass, dry mass, Chl content, net photosynthetic rate (PN), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (gs), and RuBPCO activity were significantly lower in infected plants after 5 weeks of virus infection as compared to healthy plants. The 5-week virus infection did not induce significant differences in intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci, photochemical efficiency of photosystem 2, PS2 (Fv/Fm), excitation capture efficiency of open PS2 reaction centres (Fv'/Fm'), effective quantum efficiency of photosystem 2 (ΔF/Fm'), and photochemical quenching (qP), but non-photochemical quenching (qN) and alternative electron sink (AES) were significantly enhanced. Thus the decreased plant biomass of TuMV-infected plants might be associated with the decreased photosynthetic activity mainly due to reduced RuBPCO activity. and Y.-P. Guo ... [et al.].
Saplings of the tropical trees Tibouchina pulchra (Cham.) Cogn., Caesalpinia echinata Lam., and Psidium guajava L. cv. Paluma were exposed in open-top chambers with charcoal filtered air and measurements of gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were made before (t1) and after exposure to non-filtered air plus O3 (t2), simulating 6-h peaks of O3 similar to those observed in São Paulo city (SE Brazil, reaching an AOT40 of 641 nmol mol-1). After the fumigation, the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and Fv/Fm were reduced (p<0.05) for the three species. C. echinata was the most sensitive species and P. guajava cv. Paluma the most resistant. and R. M. Moraes ... [et al.].