The steady-state oxygen evolution rate was previously shown to be stimulated by the disaccharide trehalose in PSII suspension. Here we showed a similar increase in the rate of oxygen evolution in PSII core complexes from spinach in solution and in proteoliposomes in the presence of trehalose. Using direct electrometrical technique, we also revealed that trehalose had no effect on the kinetics of electron transfer from Mn to redox-active-tyrosyl radical, YZ (S1 - S2 transition), while it accelerated the kinetics of electrogenic proton transport during S2 - S3 and S4 - S0 transitions of the wateroxidizing complex (WOC) induced by the first, second, and third laser flashes in dark-adapted PSII samples. These observations imply that the effect of trehalose occurrs due to its interaction with the WOC., M. D. Mamedov, E. S. Nosikova, L. A. Vitukhnovskaya, A. A. Zaspa, A. Yu. Semenov., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
The combined effects of water stress (WS) and low irradiance (LI) on growth, photosynthesis, osmotic adjustment, and lipid peroxidation were studied in dragon spruce (Picea asperata Mast.) seedlings grown under two water treatments (well watered, 100 % of field capacity, and water stressed, 30 % of field capacity) and two irradiances (HI, 100 % of full sunlight and LI, 15 % of full sunlight). WS reduced growth, chlorophyll (Chl) a and b contents, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and effective quantum yield of photosystem 2 (Y) but increased free proline and malondialdehyde contents. LI increased Chl contents and decreased Y, photochemical quenching (qP), and non-photochemical quenching (qN) under both water treatments. Hence the seedlings in the understory were more sensitive to drought than to LI. and Y. Yang ... [et al.].
Two types of photosystem 2-light-harvesting complex 2 (PS2-LHC2) supercomplexes with similar pigment and protein composition were isolated directly from thylakoid membranes by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Electron microscopy and single particle image analysis revealed the first Type as single unpaired PS2-LHC2 supercomplexes, whereas the second Type was characterized as pairs of two PS2-LHC2 supercomplexes attached together by their stromal sides. Unstacking of thylakoid membranes resulted in a spontaneous disintegration of the paired supercomplexes into single unpaired particles. A model of the organisation of the pigment-protein complexes in grana region is proposed. and L. Bumba, M. Hušák, F. Vácha.
Environmental stresses, such as cold, heat, salinity, and drought, induce ethylene production and oxidative stress and cause damage in plants. On the other hand, studies have shown that salicylic acid (SA) induced resistance to environmental stresses in plants. In this research, the effects of ethylene on chlorophyll (Chl), carotenoid (Car), anthocyanin, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid, total ascorbate, lipid peroxidation, and ethylene production in leaves of canola pretreated with SA were studied. The plants were grown in pots until they have four leaves. Leaves were sprayed for two days with three different concentrations of SA (0, 0.5, and 1 mM). The plants were treated for three days with three concentrations of ethylene (0, 50, and 100 ppm). At the end of the ethylene treatments, all examined parameters were measured. The results showed that the ethylene treatments induced lipid peroxidation, while SA mitigated this effect. The ethylene treatment lowered significantly Chl and Car contents and anthocyanin accumulation, but SA alleviated these effects. SA induced an increase in ascorbic acid content in canola plants after the ethylene treatments. Therefore, we concluded that SA played an important role in the alleviation of damages caused by stress conditions. and M. M. Tirani, F. Nasibi, Kh. M. Kalantari.
Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration [CO2] and the change of water distribution in arid and semiarid areas affect plant physiology and ecosystem processes. The interaction of elevated [CO2] and drought results in the complex response such as changes in the energy flux of photosynthesis. The performance of photosystem (PS) II and the electron transport were evaluated by using OJIP induction curves of chlorophyll a fluorescence and the PN-Ci curves in the two-factor controlled experiment with [CO2] of 380 (AC) or 750 (EC) [μmol mol-1] and water stress by 10% polyethylene glycol 6000. Compared to water-stressed maize (Zea mays L.) under AC, the EC treatment combined with water stress decreased the number of active reaction centers but it increased the antenna size and the energy flux (absorbed photon flux, trapping flux, and electron transport flux) of each reaction center in PSII. Thus, the electron transport rate was enhanced, despite the indistinctively changed quantum yield of the electron transport and energy dissipation. The combination of EC and the water-stress treatment resulted in the robust carboxylation rate without elevating the saturated photosynthetic rate (Pmax). This study demonstrated that maize was capable of transporting more electrons into the carboxylation reaction, but this could not be used to increase Pmax under EC., Y. Z. Zong, W. F. Wang, Q. W. Xue, Z. P. Shangguan., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The review sums up research conducted at CIAT within a multidiscipline effort revolving around a strategy for developing improved technologies to increase and sustain cassava productivity, as well as conserving natural resources in the various eco-edaphic zones where the crop is grown, with emphasis on stressful environments. Field research has elucidated several physiological plant mechanisms underlying potentially high productivity under favourable hot-humid environments in the tropics. Most notable is cassava inherent high capacity to assimilate carbon in near optimum environments that correlates with both biological productivity and root yield across a wide range of germplasm grown in diverse environments. Cassava leaves possess elevated activities of the C4 phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) that also correlate with leaf net photosynthetic rate (PN) in field-grown plants, indicating the importance of selection for high PN. Under certain conditions such leaves exhibit an interesting photosynthetic C3-C4 intermediate behaviour which may have important implications in future selection efforts. In addition to leaf PN, yield is correlated with seasonal mean leaf area index (i.e. leaf area duration, LAD). Under prolonged water shortages in seasonally dry and semiarid zones, the crop, once established, tolerates stress and produces reasonably well compared to other food crops (e.g. in semiarid environments with less than 700 mm of annual rain, improved cultivars can yield over 3 t ha-1 oven-dried storage roots). The underlying mechanisms for such tolerance include stomatal sensitivity to atmospheric and edaphic water deficits, coupled with deep rooting capacities that prevent severe leaf dehydration, i.e. stress avoidance mechanisms, and reduced leaf canopy with reasonable photosynthesis over the leaf life span. Another stress-mitigating plant trait is the capacity to recover from stress, once water is available, by forming new leaves with even higher PN, compared to those in nonstressed crops. Under extended stress, reductions are larger in shoot biomass than in storage root, resulting in higher harvest indices. Cassava conserves water by slowly depleting available water from deep soil layers, leading to higher seasonal crop water-use and nutrient-use efficiencies. In dry environments LAD and resistance to pests and diseases are critical for sustainable yields. In semiarid zones the crop survives but requires a second wet cycle to achieve high yields and high dry matter contents in storage roots. Selection and breeding for early bulking and for medium/short-stemmed cultivars is advantageous under semiarid conditions. When grown in cooler zones such and as in tropical high altitudes and in low-land sub-tropics, leaf PN is greatly reduced and growth is slower. Thus, the crop requires longer period for a reasonable productivity. There is a need to select and breed for more cold-tolerant genotypes. Selection of parental materials for tolerance to water stress and infertile soils has resulted in breeding improved germplasm adapted to both favourable and stressful environments.
Increasing human and industrial activities lead to heavy metal pollution. Heavy metal chromium (Cr) is considered to be a serious environmental contaminant for the biota. Phytotoxic effects of Cr were studied in wheat plants. Growth parameters were largely inhibited as a result of disturbances in the plant cell metabolism in response to Cr toxicity. Chromium toxicity led to decline in a number of active reaction centres of PSII, rate of electron transport, and change in PSII heterogeneity. Chromium did not cause any change in heterogeneity of the reducing side. A significant change in antenna size heterogeneity of PSII occurred in response to Cr toxicity. Chromium seems to have extensive effects on the light harvesting complex of PSII., S. Mathur, H. M. Kalaji, A. Jajoo., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
We tested the hypothesis that invasive (IN) species could capture resources more rapidly and efficiently than noninvasive (NIN) species. Two IN alien species, Ageratina adenophora and Chromolaena odorata, and one NIN alien species, Gynura sp. were compared at five irradiances. Photon-saturated photosynthetic rate (Pmax), leaf mass (LMA) and nitrogen content (NA) per unit area, and photosynthetic nitrogen utilization efficiency (PNUE) increased significantly with irradiance. LMA, NA, and PNUE all contributed to the increased Pmax, indicating that both morphological and physiological acclimation were important for the three alien species. Under stronger irradiance, PNUE was improved through changes in N allocation. With the increase of irradiance, the amount of N converted into carboxylation and bioenergetics increased, whereas that allocated to light-harvesting components decreased. The three alien species could adequately acclimate to high irradiance by increasing the ability to utilize and dissipate photon energy and decreasing the efficiency of photon capture. The two IN species survived at 4.5 % irradiance while the NIN species Gynura died, representing their different invasiveness. Ageratina generally exhibited higher respiration rate (RD) and NA. However, distinctly higher Pmax, PNUE, Pmax/RD, or Pmax/LMA were not detected in the two invasive species, nor was lower LMA. Hence the abilities to capture and utilize resources were not always associated with invasiveness of the alien species. and Y. L. Feng, J. F. Wang, W. G. Sang.
We evaluated the growth and development of the medicinal species Pothomorphe umbellata (L.) Miq. under different shade levels (full sun and 30, 50, and 70 % shade, marked as I100, I70, I50, and I30, respectively) and their effects on gas exchange and activities of antioxidant enzymes. Photosynthetically active radiation varied from 1 254 µmol m-2 s-1 at I100 to 285 µmol m-2 s-1 at I30. Stomatal conductance, net photosynthetic rate, and relative chlorophyll (Chl) content were maximal in I70 plants. Plants grown under I100 produced leaves with lower Chl content and signs of chlorosis and necrosis. These symptoms indicated Chl degradation induced by the generation of reactive oxygen species. Stress related antioxidant enzyme activities (Mn-SOD, Fe-SOD, and Cu/Zn-SOD) were highest in I100 plants, whereas catalase activity was the lowest. Hence P. umbellata is a shade species (sciophyte), a feature that should be considered in reforestation programs or in field plantings for production of medicinal constituents. and J. A. Marchese ... [et al.].
a1_Photosystem (PS) II particles retaining a high rate of O2 evolution were isolated from the mesophilic filamentous cyanobacterium, Spirulina platensis. To achieve high production of PSII complexes in the cells, irradiance from halogen incandescent lamps was used. Disruption of cells by vibration of glass beads proved to be the most suitable procedure for isolation of thylakoid membranes. The selectivity of detergents for PSII particle preparation rose in the order of Triton X-100 < decyl-β-D-glucopyranoside < dodecyldimethyl-aminooxide < n-heptyl-β-D-thioglucoside < N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethylammonio-3-propane sulphonate < n-octyl-β-thioglycoside < octylglucoside < n-dodecyl-β-D-maltoside. The last four detergents yielded extracts, from which pure PSII particles not contaminated by PSI complexes could be obtained by sucrose-gradient centrifugation (20-45%) at the 43% sucrose level. We assumed both the acceptor and donor sides of the isolated n-dodecyl-β-D-maltoside (DM) particles to be intact due to high oxygen production by DM particles [1,500 meq(e-) mol-1 (Chl) s-1] achieved in the presence of all artificial acceptors tested. The PSII particle fraction from the sucrose gradient was used with immobilized metal (Cu2+) affinity chromatography (IMAC) for the preparation of the PSII core complex. By washing the column with a MES buffer containing MgCl2 and CaCl2, the phycobiliproteins were stripped off. The PSII core complex was eluted in a buffer containing 1% DM, mannitol, MgCl2, NaCl, CaCl2, and ɛ-aminocaproic acid. SDS-PAGE of the core complex provided pure bands of D1 and D2 proteins and PsbO protein from thylakoid membrane, which were used to raise polyclonal antibodies in rabbits. These antibodies recognized D1 and D2 not only as monomers of 31 and 32 kDa proteins, but also as heterodimers of D1, D2 corresponding to the band of 66 kDa on SDS-PAGE. This was in contrast to antibodies of, a2_synthetic determinants, which reacted only with the monomers of D1 and D2 proteins. These negative reactions against heterodimers of D1, D2 supported the hypothesis that dimeric forms of PSII reaction centre proteins have a C-terminal sequence sterically protected against a reaction with specific antibodies., and E. Šetlíková ... [et al.].