Water availability is one of the most important limiting factors in agriculture worldwide, particularly in arid and semiarid regions. Six spring wheat genotypes, i.e. three UK cultivars Cadenza, Paragon, and Xi-19 and three synthetic-derived lines L-22, L-24, and L-38, were grown in a phytotron under well-watered (until 40 days after sowing) and drought conditions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the traits related to photosynthetic capacity (net photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, internal CO2 concentration, transpiration rate, carboxylation capacity, instantaneous and intrinsic water-use efficiency) and plant biomass production in the cultivars and synthetic derivatives of wheat genotypes under well-watered and water-limited conditions. Genotypic variations in gas-exchange traits including net photosynthetic rate, carboxylation capacity, instantaneous water-use efficiency, and biomass yield were found amongst genotypes. Drought significantly reduced the total dry matter per plant. The synthetic derivatives L-22 and L-24 showed higher performance of stomata for most of the stomatal aperture characteristics. Total dry matter was positively related to net photosynthetic rate and to instantaneous and intrinsic water-use efficiencies. Finally, net photosynthetic rate was also positively related to stomatal conductance and transpiration rate under both the well-watered and water-limited drought conditions., S. Sikder, J. Foulkes, H. West, J. De Silva, O. Gaju, A. Greenland, P. Howell., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The effectiveness of eight spectral reflectance indices for estimating chlorophyll (Chl) content in leaves of Eugenia uniflora L., a tropical tree species widely distributed throughout the world and a key species for ecosystem restoration projects, was evaluated. Spectral reflectance indices were tested using sun and shade leaves with a broad variation in leaf mass per area (LMA). Shortly after plants were exposed to chilling temperatures, there was a dramatic visible change in some sun leaves from green to red. Prior to testing Chl-related reflectance indices, the green and red leaves were separated according to the anthocyanin reflectance index (ARI). Slightly green to dark green leaves corresponded to an ARI value less than 0.11 (n = 107), whereas slightly red to red leaves corresponded to an ARI value greater than 0.11 (n = 35). To estimate leaf Chl, two simple reflectance indices (SR680 and SR705), two normalized difference indices (ND680 and ND705), two modified reflectance indices (mSR705 and mND705), a modified Chl absorption ratio index (mCARI705) and an index insensitive to the presence of anthocyanins (CIre) were evaluated. Good estimates of leaf Chl content were obtained using the reflectance indices tested regardless of the presence of anthocyanins and changes in LMA. Based on the coefficients of determination (r2) and the root mean square errors (RMSɛc) the best results were obtained with reflectance indices measured at wavelengths of 750 and 705 nm. Considering the performance of the models the best reflectance indices to estimate Chl contents in E. uniflora leaves with a broad variation in LMA and anthocyanin contents was SR705 and mCARI705., M. S. Mielke, B. Schaffer, A. C. Schilling., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The temperature dependence of the induction kinetics parameters of chiorophyll (Chl) fluorescence in leaves and isolated chloroplasts of young plants of PhaseoliLt vulgaris L. was studied. Theoretical prerequisites for the influence of fluorescence measuring temperature as well as 3 min pretreatment of leaf discs cn both the photophysical and dark processes in the photosynthetic appaiatus were evaluated. The registration manner of fluorescence kinetics detennined the pattem of temperature dependence curve. The characteristic temperature of sharp changes of induction kinetics parameters, maximal and initial fluorescence and Fq, were in ranges of 45-47 and 55-60 °C, respectively. The fitting of experimental data from thermograms registered at weak exciting iiradiance in thermoinactivated leaf discs allowed to estimate the activation energy (FJ of the intemal energy conversion process in excited Chl molecule as 51.2±0.15 kJ moTT The theoretical analysis of /'q measured by a PAM fluorometer showed that Fq registered even at low inadiances markedly exceeded its ideál dark value. The Fq measured at 25 °C was increased by 125±5.3 % by the herbicide DCMU and diminished by -23.8±1.6 % by the elechon acceptor DCBQ. At the experimental conditions ušed there were about 25 % of 1\ from dosed Qg non-reducing reaction centres in the measured Fq value. Thus the thermoinduced increase in Fq observed within the temperature inteiwal of 45-50 °C might be doně by a transition of PS2 reaction centres from a statě capable of reducing Q3 to a Qg-non-reducing statě.
Handy Plant Efficiency Analyser (Handy PEA) provides a method for the high-throughput screening of photosynthetic germplasm. However, the large number of chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters (CFPs) from PEA and the inconsistency of CFP applications among studies greatly limit the accuracy of photosynthesis analyses. In this study, all 53 CFPs of 186 upland cotton cultivars (strains) were measured at 12:00 and 17:00 h. Thirty-two CFPs were selected according to biological importance, and the CFP relationships were determined. Differences in the response ability of cotton cultivars (strains) to high light intensity stress were demonstrated by the distribution of CFPs. Furthermore, the classification and evaluation of photosynthetic characteristics of cotton cultivars (strains) were carried out by Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis. Finally, ten cotton cultivars (strains) with good photosynthetic performance were selected. This study provides a high-throughput method how to identify cotton germplasm resources with high photosynthetic efficiency.
Ionic environment is important in regulating photosynthetic reactions. The roles of cations, Mn2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Na+, and K+ as cofactors in electron transport, energy transfer, phosphorylation, and carbon assimilation are better known than the roles of anions, except for chloride and bicarbonate. Only a limited information exists on the roles and effects of nitri formate, sulphate, and phosphate. In this review, we evaluate and highlight the roles of some specific anions on electron transport as well as on excitation energy transfer processes in photosynthesis. Anions exert significant effects on thyla membrane conformation and membrane fluidity, possibly by redistributing the thylakoid membrane surface charges. The anion/cation induced phase transitions in the hydrophilic domains of the thylakoid membranes are probably responsible for the various structural and co-related functional changes under stress. Anions are also important in regulation of energy distribution between the two photosystems. Anions do not only divert more energy from photosystem (PS) 2 to PS1, but can also reverse the effect of cations on energy distribution in a valence-dependent manner. Anions affect also the structure of the photosynthetic apparatus and excitation energy distribution between the two photosystems. and A. Jajoo, S. Bharti, P. Mohanty.
Silicomolybdate (SiMo) is an electron acceptor that has many characteristics, the ignorance of which makes an interpretation of the results quite troublesome. In photoinhibitíon experiments the photosystem 2 (PS 2) actívity can be best monitored if 1 pM dibromotíiymoquinone (DBMIB) is added after photoinhibitory treatment and SiMo is added in the light. Diuron (DCMU) may complicate interpretation of the results as it is also a competítíve inhibitor of SiMo binding at pH 7.6. The binding niche of SiMo is probably located at the stroma side between the fourth and fifth helix of the Dl and D2 proteins close to Q^- The whole chain actívity was much more affected by the photoinhibitory treatment than the PS 2 actívity itself Uncoupling of electron flow by addition of ammonium chloride accelerated the rate of photoinhibitíon. Photoinhibitory treatment decreased not only the Hill actívity at photon saturation, but also decreased the quantum yield and increased the photon flux density yielding half maximum rate of electron flow (K^). Decrease of quantum yield indicated that the photochemistry of PS 2 was afiected; increase of indicated a coiďormational change of the SiMo binding site. In experiments on PS 2 actívity monitored witíi SiMo, DCMU had no protectíve effect on the damage of the electron transport chain between water and QA.
We recently developed a chlorophyll a fluorescence method (activated F0 rise) for estimating if a light wavelength preferably excites PSI or PSII in plants. Here, the method was tested in green microalgae: Scenedesmus quadricauda, Scenedesmus ecornis, Scenedesmus fuscus, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Chlorella sorokiniana, and Ettlia oleoabundans. The Scenedesmus species displayed a plant-like action spectra of F0 rise, suggesting that PSII/PSI absorption ratio is conserved from higher plants to green algae. F0 rise was weak in a strain of C. reinhardtii, C. sorokiniana, and E. oleoabundans. Interestingly, another C. reinhardtii strain exhibited a strong F0 rise. The result indicates that the same illumination can lead to different redox states of the plastoquinone pool in different algae. Flavodiiron activity enhanced the F0 rise, presumably by oxidizing the plastoquinone pool during pre-illumination. The activity of plastid terminal oxidase, in turn, diminished the F0 rise, but to a small degree.
Wild Arachis genotypes were analysed for chlorophyll a fluorescence, carbon isotope discrimination (ΔC), specific leaf area (SLA), and SPAD readings. Associations between different traits, i.e., SLA and SPAD readings (r =-0.76), SLA and ΔC (r = 0.42), and ΔC and SPAD readings (r = 0.30) were established. The ratio of maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm) showed a wider variability under water deficit (WD) than that after irrigation (IR). Genotypes were grouped according to the Fv/Fm ratio as: efficient, values between 0.80 and 0.85; moderately efficient, the values from 0.79 to 0.75; inefficient, the values < 0.74. Selected Selected genotypes were evaluated also for their green fodder yield: the efficient genotypes ranged between 3.0 and 3.8, the moderately efficient were 2.6 and 2.7, the inefficient genotypes were of 2.3 and 2.5 t ha-1 per year in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Leaf
water-relation traits studied in WD and IR showed that the efficient genotypes were superior in maintenance of leaf water-relation traits, especially, under WD. Potential genotypes identified in this study may enhance biomass productivity in the semiarid tropic regions., P. C. Nautiyal, A. L. Rathnakumar, G. Kulkarni, M. S. Sheshshayee., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Recent reports have indicated a considerably inactivated PSII in twig cortices, in spite of the low light transmittance of overlying periderms. Corresponding information for more deeply located and less illuminated tissues like xylem rays and pith are lacking. In this investigation we aimed to characterize the efficiency of PSII and its light sensitivity along twig depth, in conjunction with the prevailing light quantity and quality. To that aim, optical methods (spectral reflectance and transmittance, chlorophyll fluorescence imaging, low temperature fluorescence spectra) and photoinhibitory treatments were applied in cut twig sections of four tree species, while corresponding leaves served as controls. Compared to leaves, twig tissues displayed lower chlorophyll (Chl) levels and dark-adapted PSII efficiency, with strong decreasing gradients towards the twig center. The low PSII efficiencies in the inner stem were not an artifact due to an actinic effect of measuring beam or to an enhanced contribution of PSI fluorescence. In fact, the PSII/PSI ratios in cortices were higher and those in the xylem rays similar to that of leaves. Inner twig tissues were quite resistant to photoinhibitory treatments, tolerating irradiation levels several-fold higher than those encountered in their microenvironment. Moreover, the extent of high light tolerance was similar in naturally exposed and shaded twig sides. The results indicate an increasing, inherent and light-independent inactivation of PSII along twig depth. The findings are discussed on the basis of a recently proposed model for photosynthetic electron flow in twigs, taking into account the specific atmospheric and light microenvironment as well as the possible metabolic needs of such bulky organs. and C. Yiotis, Y. Petropoulou, Y. Manetas.
Because of the shortage of phycoerythrin (PE) gene sequences from rhodophytes, peBA encoding β- and α -subunits of PE from three species of red algae (Ceramium boydenn, Halymenia sinensis, and Plocamium telfariae) were cloned and sequenced. Different selection forces have affected the evolution of PE lineages. 8.9 % of the codons were subject to positive selection within the PE lineages (excluding high-irradiance adapted Prochlorococcus). More than 40 % of the sites may be under positive selection, and nearly 20 % sites are weakly constraint sites in high-irradiance adapted Prochlorococcus. Sites most likely undergoing positive selection were found in the chromophore binding domains, suggesting that these sites have played important roles in environmental adaptation during PE diversification. Moreover, the heterogeneous distribution of positively selected sites along the PE gene was revealed from the comparison of low-irradiance adapted Prochlorococcus and marine Synechococcus, which firmly suggests that evolutionary patterns of PEs in these two lineages are significantly different. and S. Qin, F. Q. Zhao, C. K. Tseng.