The age dependence of the photosynthetic performance, chlorophyll fluorescence and chloroplast ultrastructure of green form and Chl ft-deficient form (aurea) of tobacco Su/su mutant were compared. The most pronounced differences between the aurea and green tobacco found in young leaves diminished with leaf age. Slower accumulation of the photosynthetic pigments during the development of aurea leaves was accompanied by a slower accumulation of LHC antennae of both photosystems, particularly that of PS2, and by retention of an increase in the capacity of PS2 photochemistry, measured as Fy/FM The ratio Fv/Fm, however, increased rapidly during maturation of aurea leaves, and fmally the mature aurea leaves exhibited higher values of this ratio than the green ones. Rates of photosynthesis at saturating irradiance (Epiax) saturating CO2 concentration (/’sat) decreased with leaf age for both aurea and green tobacco, being always higher in aurea leaves than in leaves of green tobacco of comparable age. AU these characteristics indicated retarded development of aurea leaves. Also the chloroplast ultrastructure, particularly grana formation, exhibited slower development. The decrease in /Wx and with leaf age in both tobacco forms and retardation in the development of aurea leaves can explain higher value of usually found in aurea tobacco.
Turnover of Dl protein as influenced by actual irradiance and growth irradiance was analyzed in the photoautotrophic suspension cultured cells of Chenopodium rubrum. Proteins were labelled by adding 35S-methionine to the ceU suspension. Following electrophoresis the labelled proteins were detected by autoradiography. Relative label incorporation into the Dl protein containing band was calculated from scans of the autoradiographs and ušed as an estimate of Dl protein synthesis (pulse experiments) and Dl protein degradation (chase experiments). Total label incorporation was not affected by the irradiance during labelling but Dl protein synthesis and degradation were boťh increased at 900 pmol m-2 s*i as compared to 120 pmol m'2 s*^ The effect of growth irradiance was analysed by comparing cells which had been pre-cultured at 120 pmol m'2 s"^ (HL cells) and 900 pmol s‘i (PIL cells) for at least 6 d. The inhibition of chloroplastic protein synthesis by cUoramphenicol exacerbated the effect of photoinhibitory irradiance on the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in these cells. The inhibitor effect was more pronoímced in PIL cells than in HL ones. This points to a higher chloroplastic protein synthesis capacity of the former cell type. Due to a considerable difference in total label incorporation pulse experiments could not be ušed to check this hypothesis. The chase experiments indicated that the Dl-protein degradation rate was higher in PIL cells tiian in HL cells. Probably a generál increase in the Dl protein tumover occiu^ if the cells are exposed to photoinhibitory irradiances for a prolonged period.
Pot experiments were conducted with Hordeum distichon L. (mutant of the cultivar Plena) and Hordeum vulgare L. ssp. hexastichon (cv. Certina). At two stages of development (5 and 20 d after the end of flowering), the assimilate demand of the sink organs (ears) was increased by daikening them for 5 d. The influence of this treatment on the apparent CO2 assimilation (P^), the *'*C02 incorporation of source leaves (flag leaves) and the suhsequent distrihution in the plants were investigated using a combination of gas exchange measurements by IRGA and exposure of the plants to ^'^002. Darkening of the ear 5 d after the end of flowering produced no change in incorporation of the source (flag leáf), or subsequent distrihution to the individual organ fractions in either of the cultivars. Darkening of the ear of cv. Certina 20 d after the end of flowering caused an increased orientation of the translocation to the ear, while of the flag leaf was not significantly influenced. In the Plena cultivar, the loss of ear photosynthesis caused by the darkening could not be compensated by the increased translocation, which was already very high in the control plants; of the flag leaf was enhanced. In the course of grain filling (5 d -> 20 d after the end of flowering), the absolute P^, and protein and chlorophyll contents of the flag leaves strongly decreased in both cultivars. Darkening pf the ear delayed this process in cv. Plena and partly also in cv. Certina. In the čase of an increased assimilate demand of the sink (ear), the CO2 assimilation of the source leaves was reduced only if the saccharide reserves of the plant were depleted. Differences in source-sink interactions observed between cultivars and developmental stages could be explained by this result.
The principles and application prospects of a set-up for simultaneous measurements of oxygen evolution and fluorescence in intact leaves on a fast (10 ms) time scale are descríbed. The oxygen evolution is measured with a photoacoustic technique. The method shows among other things (a) a direct deteimination of the intrinsic yield of 'open' reaction centres (RCs) of photosystem 2 (PS 2), and (b) ihe involvement of a 20-30 % firaction of PS 2 RCs with an apparent low oxygen yield in the light-adapted leaves. Double-flashPS 15 measurements in the light- and dark-adapted leaves have substantiated the absence of inactive RCs in leaves that were kept in the dark for more than 12 h.
The responses of growth and leaf gas exchange to increasing salinity were measured in two halophytes [Atriplex nummularia (C4), Atriplex hastata (C3)] and one glycophyte [Hordeum vulgare (C3)]. The growth (dry mass) of both the halophytes was significantly increased, by 54 and 17 %, respectively, as salinity was increased in the range 0-200 mol m-^ NaCl. However, net CO2 assimilation rate (Pn)- the intercellular CO2 concentration (Cj) and leaf conductance (^1) were unaffected. At higher levels of salinity (in the range 400 - 600 mol m"^ NaCl) the growth of the two halophytes was severely reduced (by 44 and 51 %, respectively). At these levels of salinity q were significantly depressed. 25 mol m*^ NaCl significantly reduced the growth of H. vulgare by 44 %, but had no effect on Py^, g| and Cj. However, at 100 mol m'^ NaCl, where growth was decreased by 62 %, and g| were significantly reduced while q was unaltered. There was thus, no association between the effects of salinity on growth and leaf gas exchange at low salinities (25- 200 mol m'3 NaCl). At higher salinities, leaf gas exchange and growth were both severely inhibited but it is unlikely that a direct causal relationship existed. At these salinities sodium concentration in the leaves (tissue water basis) was above 400 mol m'3 in the halophytes and above 100 mol m'^ in H. vulgare which possibly affected both growth and leaf gas exchange independently. Also, the effects of salinity on total leaf chlorophyll concentration and net CO2 assimilation rate expressed on a chlorophyll (chl) basis (Pchi) were no better related to growth than was Pn
The effect of water stress on the gas exchange (CO2, H2O), distribution, water potential (T*), membrane permeability and chlorophyll content was studied in two maize hybrids, of the high and low drought tolerance, in the vegetative phase of growth. Diťferences in the responses to drought between both hybrids were clearly marked. After 5 d of drought the decrease in the net photosynthetic rate uptake and losses, transpiration rate (E) and increase of stomata resistance (r^ were greater in the drought-resistant hybrid than in the drought-susceptible one. On the contrary, after 10 or 15 d of drought, the decrease of and 'P in whole seedlings was greater in the susceptible hybrid than in the resistant one. Significant differences between hybrids were also observed in the accumulation of *'^C, the membrane permeability and the chlorophyll content. For all treatments the amount of carbon accumulation in roots of the resistant hybrid increased, while that of the susceptible one decreased. In the drought-resistant hybrid we observed a greater chlorophyll stability and a smaller damage of cell membranes than in the sensitive one.