The photoprotective function of leaf betacyanin in water-stressed Amaranthus cruentus plants was examined by comparing leaves of two strains which differ significantly in the amount of betacyanin. At 0, 1, and 2 days after the imposed water stress, leaves were subjected to high-light (HL) treatment to assess their photosynthetic capacity and photoinhibition susceptibility. The water stress equally reduced leaf relative water content (RWC),
gas-exchange rate and chlorophyll (Chl) contents in both leaves, indicating that the severity of water stress was comparable between the strains. Consequently, the extent of photoinhibition after the HL treatment increased in both strains as water stress developed; however, it was significantly greater in acyanic leaves than in betacyanic leaves, suggesting lower photoinhibition susceptibility in the betacyanic strain. The betacyanic leaves also exhibited approximately 30% higher values for photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) during the period of water stress despite the nonphotochemical quenching coefficient (qN) did not differ significantly between the strains. These results may be partially explained by the increased amount of leaf betacyanin under water stress. Moreover, a decrease in Chl content in betacyanic leaves might have enhanced light screening effect of betacyanin by increasing relative abundance of betacyanin to Chl molecule. In addition, reduced Chl content increased light penetrability of leaves. As a result, the extent of photoinhibition at the deeper tissue was exacerbated and the Chl fluorescence emitted from these tissues was more readily detected, facilitating assessment of photoinhibition at deeper tissues where the effect of betacyanic light screening is considered to be most apparent. Our results demonstrated that leaf betacyanin contributes to total photoprotective capacity of A. cruentus leaves by lowering excitation pressure on photosystem II (PSII) via attenuation of potentially harmful excess incident light under water stress. and T. Nakashima, T. Araki, O. Ueno
The response of Picea glehnii, a cold-tolerant species in the boreal zone, to air temperature (T) was investigated for its cold-acclimated needles (i.e. the ones subjected to gradual decrease in T) and nonacclimated needles (i.e. the ones subjected to a sudden decrease in T) were compared under low temperature.
Cold-acclimated needles showed a greater increase of zeaxanthin and lutein contents than nonacclimated ones, whereas the nonacclimated needles showed a greater increase of thylakoid-bound ascorbate peroxidase (tAPX) activity than cold-acclimated ones under chilling conditions (after cold acclimation). These results suggest that: (1) low T induces the increase of zeaxanthin and lutein content, and tAPX activity; (2) accumulated zeaxanthin and lutein protect needles from photooxidative stress by dissipating excess energy before the reactive oxygen species (ROS) are formed in response to a gradual decrease in T (with cold acclimation and subsequent chilling condition), and by tAPX scavenging ROS formed in the case of a sudden decrease in T (without cold acclimation and chilling condition). and J.-J. Bae ... [et al.].
The Amur Grape (Vitis amurensis Rupr.) cultivars ’shuangFeng’ and ‘ZuoShanyi’ were grown in shelter greenhouse under natural sunlight and subjected to drought. Sap flow rate, net photosynthetic rate (PN), and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence were measured on Amur Grape leaves subjected to different drought treatments. Significant decreases in P N were associated with increasing intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), suggesting that the reduction in PN was caused by nonstomatal limitation. Analysis of OJIP transients according to the JIP-test protocol revealed that specific (per PSII reaction center) energy fluxes for light absorption, excitation energy trapping and electron transport have significantly changed. The appearance of a pronounced K-step and J-step in polyphasic rise of fluorescence transient suggested the oxygen-evolving complex and electron transport were inhibited. Drought stress has relatively little effect on the parameter maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm), but the performance index (PIABS) is more sensitive in different drought treatment. There are cultivar differences in the response of PSII activity to drought, the photosynthetic apparatus of ‘ZuoShanyi’ cultivar is more resistant to drought than that of ‘ShuangFeng’, and JIP-test could be a useful indicator for evaluation and selection to drought tolerance., Z. X. Wang ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii
We studied the effects of applying 50 kg(N) ha-1 year-1 of nitrogen (N) on needle photosynthesis, N allocation and nutrient content in the sun- and shade crowns of the hybrid larch F1 (Larix gmelinii var. japonica × L. kaempferi). The light-saturated net photosynthetic rate (PNmax) was not significantly affected by N application or crown position, although the contents of N, P, K, and chlorophyll (Chl), and the maximum rates of carboxylation and electron transport were lower in needles of the shade crown than of the sun crown. This difference was mainly due to an increase in the intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) in the needles of the shade crown. Analysis of N allocation in photosynthetic systems revealed that more N was allocated to functions related to electron transport and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) regeneration in needles of the shade crown. N allocation in needles of the hybrid larch F1 was regulated mainly by the light conditions, rather than by N application., Q. Z. Mao ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The purpose of this study was to clarify effects of anthocyanins on photosynthesis and photoinhibition in green and red leaves of Oxalis triangularis. Gas analysis indicated that green plants had the highest apparent quantum yield for CO2 assimilation [0.051 vs. 0.031 μmol(CO2) μmol-1(photon)] and the highest maximum photosynthesis [10.07 vs. 7.24 μmol(CO2) m-2 s-1], while fluorescence measurements indicated that red plants had the highest PSII quantum yield [0.200 vs. 0.143 μmol(e-) μmol-1(photon)] and ETRmax [66.27 vs. 44.34 μmol(e-) m-2 s-1]. Red plants had high contents of anthocyanins [20.11 mg g-1(DM)], while green plants had low and undetectable levels of anthocyanin. Red plants also had statistically significantly (0.05>p>0.01) lower contents of xanthophyll cycle components [0.63 vs. 0.76 mg g-1(DM)] and higher activities of the reactive oxygen scavenging enzyme ascorbate peroxidase [41.2 vs. 10.0 nkat g-1(DM)]. Anthocyanins act as a sunscreen, protecting the chloroplasts from high light intensities. This shading effect causes a lower photosynthetic CO2 assimilation in red plants compared to green plants, but a higher quantum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII). Anthocyanins contribute to photoprotection, compensating for lower xanthophyll content in red plants, and red plants are less photoinhibited than green plants, as illustrated by the Fv/Fm ratio. and S. L. Nielsen, A.-M. Simonsen
To address the issue of water eutrophication and to use water more effectively, we conducted experiments on rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown in floating culture. From 2009 to 2011, we compared the photosynthesis and root characteristics of the rice, hybrid line Zhuliangyou 02, grown under a conventional tillage and in a floating culture in Huaihua, the home of hybrid rice. Rice in the floating culture showed a higher net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance than that under the conventional tillage. The activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and NADP-malic enzyme were 32 and 28% higher, respectively, in rice in the floating culture than under the conventional tillage. Rice in the floating culture also showed significantly greater number of roots, root activity, and antioxidant enzyme activity than that under the conventional tillage. Compared with rice under the conventional tillage, rice in the floating culture had 18 and 24% higher tiller number and effective panicle number, respectively. These results suggested that the floating culture system can promote rice production through enhancing root absorption, increasing effective panicle number, and improving the photosynthetic rate. In addition, rice cultivated in the floating culture could remove excess nutrients from water, which addresses the problems of a lack of arable land and water pollution., H.-X. Wu ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The photosynthetic characterization of Populus euphratica and their response to increasing groundwater depth and temperature were analyzed based on net photosynthetic rate (PN), stomatal conductance (gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), transpiration rate (E), water use efficiency (WUE) and stomatal limitation (Ls) measured by a portable gas-exchange system (LI-6400) in the lower reaches of the Tarim River. Light-response curves were constructed to obtain light-compensation and light-saturation points (LCP and LSP), maximum photosynthetic rates (Pmax), quantum yields (AQY), and dark respiration rates (RD). The growth condition of P. euphratica, soil moisture, and groundwater depth in the plots were analyzed by field investigation. The results showed that the growth condition and photosynthetic characterization of P. euphratica were closely related to groundwater depth. The rational groundwater depth for the normal growth and photosynthesis was 3-5 m, the stress groundwater depth for mild drought was more than 5 m, for moderate drought was more than 6 m, for severe drought was more than 7 m. However, P. euphratica could keep normal growth through a strong drought resistance depended on the stomatal limitation and osmotic adjustment when it faced mild or moderate drought stress, respectively, at a normal temperature (25°C). High temperature (40°C) significantly reduced PN and drought stress exacerbated the damage of high temperature to the photosynthesis. Moreover, P. euphratica would prioritize the resistance of high temperature when it encountered the interaction between heat shock and water deficit through the stomata open unequally to improve the transpiration of leaves to dissipate overheating at the cost of low WUE, and then resist water stress through the osmotic adjustment or the stomatal limitation. and H. H. Zhou ... [et al.].
Due to anthropogenic influences, solar UV-B irradiance at the earth's surface is increasing. To determine the effects of enhanced UV-B radiation on photosynthetic characteristics of Prunus dulcis, two-year-old seedlings of the species were submitted to four levels of UV-B stress, namely 0 (UV-Bc), 4.42 (UV-B1), 7.32 (UV-B2) and 9.36 (UV-B3) kJ m-2 d-1. Effects of UV-B stress on a range of chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence parameters (FPs), Chl contents and photosynthetic gas-exchange parameters were investigated. UV-B stress promoted an increase in minimal fluorescence of
dark-adapted state (F0) and F0/Fm, and a decrease in variable fluorescence (Fv, Fv/Fm, Fv/F0 and F0/Fm) due to its adverse effects on photosystem II (PSII) activity. No significant change was observed for maximal fluorescence of dark-adapted state (Fm). Enhanced UV-B radiation caused a significant inhibition of net photosynthetic rate (PN) at UV-B2 and UV-B3 levels and this was accompanied by a reduction in stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration rate (E). The contents of Chl a, b, and total Chl content (a+b) were also significantly reduced at increased UV-B stress. In general, adverse UV-B effects became significant at the highest tested radiation dose 9.36 kJ m-2 d-1. The most sensitive indicators for UV-B stress were Fv/F0, Chl a content and PN. Significant P<0.05 alteration in these parameters was found indicating the drastic effect of UV-B radiation on P. dulcis. and A. Ranjbarfordoei ... [et al.].
Stressful environments such as salinity, drought, and high temperature (heat) cause alterations in a wide range of physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes in plants. Photosynthesis, the most fundamental and intricate physiological process in all green plants, is also severely affected in all its phases by such stresses. Since the mechanism of photosynthesis involves various components, including photosynthetic pigments and photosystems, the electron transport system, and CO2 reduction pathways, any damage at any level caused by a stress may reduce the overall photosynthetic capacity of a green plant. Details of the stress-induced damage and adverse effects on different types of pigments, photosystems, components of electron transport system, alterations in the activities of enzymes involved in the mechanism of photosynthesis, and changes in various gas exchange characteristics, particularly of agricultural plants, are considered in this review. In addition, we discussed also progress made during the last two decades in producing transgenic lines of different C3 crops with enhanced photosynthetic performance, which was reached by either the overexpression of C3 enzymes or transcription factors or the incorporation of genes encoding C4 enzymes into C3 plants. We also discussed critically a current, worldwide effort to identify signaling components, such as transcription factors and protein kinases, particularly mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) involved in stress adaptation in agricultural plants., M. Ashraf, P. J. C. Harris., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Sunflowers were treated with mixing proportions of NaCl, Na2SO4, NaHCO3, and Na2CO3. Effects of salt and saltalkaline mixed stress on growth, photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, and contents of inorganic ions and organic acids of sunflower were compared. The growth of sunflower decreased with increasing salinity. The contents of photosynthetic pigments did not decrease under salt stress, but their contents decreased sharply under
salt-alkaline mixed stress. Net photosynthetic rates, stomatal conductance and intercellular CO2 concentration decreased obviously, with greater reductions under salt-alkaline mixed stress than under salt one. Fluorescence parameters showed no significant differences under salt stress. However, maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry, photochemical quenching coefficient, electron transport rate, and actual PSII efficiency significantly decreased but non-photochemical quenching increased substantially under salt-alkaline mixed stress. Under salt-alkaline mixed stress, sunflower leaves maintained a low Na+- and high K+ status; this may be an important feature of sunflower tolerance to salinity. Analysis of the mechanism of ion balance showed that K+ but not Na+ was the main inorganic cation in sunflower leaves. Our results indicated that the change in organic acid content was opposite to the change of Cl-, and the contribution of organic acid to total charge in sunflower leaves under both stresses decreased with increasing salinity. This may be a special adaptive response to stresses for sunflower. Sunflower under stress conditions mainly accumulated inorganic ions instead of synthesizing organic compounds to decrease cell water potential in order to save energy consumption. and J. Liu, D.-C. Shi.