Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence, the ratio of maximal to variable fluorescence (Fv/Fm), maximal fluorescence (Fm), and minimal fluorescence (F0) were determined on Picea abies growing at different altitudes. The decreases of Fv/Fm and Fm, in comparison to samples from the lower stands (control), were found on trees from the highest stands. The decrease of fluorescence parameters was reversible, at least partly, after keeping branches for some days in the laboratory. Fv/Fm measured in spring when trees were partially covered with snow revealed greater degree of photoinactivation in branches collected from above the snow in comparison to those from below the snow. In samples collected from above snow also slower recovery from stress was observed. Two main SOD isoforms were determined in needles of P. abies, and classified as CuZnSODs. The activity of both SOD isoforms was increasing with the altitude, thus indicating the highest level of oxidative stress at the timberline zone. and Z. Miszalski ... [et al.].
Six leaf samplings were conducted in two sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrids during the 2006 growing season in order to evaluate a simple model proposed for leaf area (LA) estimation. A total of 144 leaves were processed using an image analysis system and LA, maximum leaf width (W) [cm], and midvein length (L) [cm] were measured. Also, LA was estimated using the model proposed by Rouphael et al. (2007). Measured LA was exponentially related with L and W, and the W-LA relationships showed higher r2. Estimated LA was strongly and exponentially related with L. Strong, linear relationships with high r2 between estimated and measured LA confirmed the high predictability of the proposed model. and J. T. Tsialtas, N. Maslaris.
Industrial chicory, Cichorium intybus L., has rather poor early vigour under the typical early spring morning conditions of low temperatures and high light intensity. Screening tools are being developed to assess the cold tolerance/sensitivity of young industrial chicory plants under these conditions. Refinement of such tools requires better understanding of the plants' physiological responses. In this paper we discuss the effects of growth temperature (GT), measurement temperature (MT), and measuring light intensity (ML) on the relaxation of the Kautsky curve. We chose the chicory variety 'Hera', as it is known to possess a good average early vigour. Young plants of the variety 'Hera' were grown at three temperatures (GT): 16°C (reference), 8°C (intermediate), and 4°C (cold stress). The dark relaxation kinetics were analyzed at different light intensities (ML) in combination with different measurement temperatures (MT). The three components of the nonphotochemical quenching process (NPQE, NPQT, and NPQI) were determined. NPQE was not affected by GT but was significantly affected by MT and ML. NPQT and NPQI were affected by all factors and their interactions. An acclimation effect for plants grown at low GT was detected. Acclimation resulted in lower NPQT and NPQI values. The halftime of the inhibition depending on NPQ (NPQI) was not affected by any of the factors investigated. Based on the data generated, we conclude that NPQI is a valuable parameter for screening the cold sensitivity of young industrial chicory plants. and P. Lootens ... [et al.].
Industrial chicory, Cichorium intybus L., is cultivated for the production of inulin. Most varieties of industrial chicory exhibit rather poor early growth, which limits further yield improvements in their European cultivation area. The poor early growth could be due to suboptimum adaptation of the gene pool to growth at low temperatures, sometimes in combination with high light intensities, which is typical of early-spring mornings. We have used chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence to evaluate the response of young plants of the cultivar 'Hera' to low temperatures and high light intensities. Plants were grown at three temperatures: 16°C (reference), 8°C (intermediate), and 4°C (cold stress). Light-response measurements were carried out at different light intensities in combination with different measurement temperatures. Parameters that quantify the photosystem II (PSII) operating efficiency (including PSII maximum efficiency and PSII efficiency factor) and nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) are important to evaluate the stress in terms of severity, the photosynthetics processes affected, and acclimation to lower growth temperatures. The results clearly demonstrate that in young industrial chicory plants the photosynthetic system adapts to lower growth temperatures. However, to fully understand the plant response to the stresses studied and to evaluate the long-term effect of the stress applied on the growth dynamics, the subsequent dark relaxation dynamics should also be investigated. and S. Devacht ... [et al.].
Ten light-harvesting complex (Lhc) proteins were investigated to determine which was the most appropriate protein marker of senescence in detached rice leaves. The levels of Lhc proteins were monitored by immunoblot analysis, which was conducted using commercially available antibodies raised against each Lhc protein. Among the Lhc proteins evaluated in this study, Lhca1, Lhcb1, Lhcb2, Lhcb3, and Lhcb5 were not appropriate to be used as senescence markers while others can be used after optimization of the procedure. and K. Kang ... [et al.].
Simultaneous measurements of leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence for Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm. at 380 ± 5.6 and 600 ± 8.5 μmol mol-1 were conducted, and the photosynthetic electron flow via photosystem II (PSII) to photosynthesis, photorespiration, and other electron-consuming processes were calculated. The results showed that the photosynthetic electron flow associated with carboxylation (Jc), oxygenation (Jo), and other
electron-consuming processes (Jr) were 72.7, 45.7, and 29.4 μmol(e-) m-2 s-1 at 380 μmol mol-1, respectively; and 86.1, 35.3, and 48.2 μmol(e-) m-2 s-1 at 600 μmol mol-1, respectively. Our results revealed that other aspects associated with electronconsuming processes, except for photosynthesis and respiration, were neither negligible nor constant under photorespiratory conditions. Using maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pmax), day respiration (R), photorespiration rate (Rl), and maximum electron flow via PSII
(Jmax), the use efficiency of electrons via PSII at saturation irradiance to fix CO2 was calculated. The calculated results showed that the use efficiency of electrons via PSII to fix CO2 at 600 μmol mol-1 was almost as effective as that at 380 μmol mol-1, even though more electrons passed through PSII at 600 μmol mol-1 than at 380 μmol mol-1., Z. P. Ye, Q. Yu, H. J. Kang., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The changes in growth and photosynthetic performance of two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars (Bolal-2973 and Atay-85) differing in their sensitivity to boron (B) toxicity were investigated under toxic B conditions. Eight-day old seedlings were exposed to highly toxic B concentrations (5, 7.5, and 10 mM H3BO3) for 5 and 9 days. Fast chlorophyll a fluorescence kinetics was determined and analysed using JIP test. Growth parameters, tissue B contents, and membrane damage were measured at two stress durations. The photochemical performance of PSII was hindered more in the sensitive cultivar (Atay-85) than that of the tolerant one (Bolal-2973) under B toxicity. The increase in the B concentration and stress duration caused membrane leakage in both cultivars. However, higher membrane damage was observed in Atay-85 compared to Bolal-2973. Additionally, significant reduction of growth parameters was observed in both cultivars at toxic B concentrations. The accumulation of B was higher in shoots than in roots of both cultivars. Nevertheless, Atay-85 translocated more B from roots to leaves compared to Bolal-2973. The advantages of certain JIP test parameters were demonstrated for evaluation of PSII activity in plants exposed to B stress. Evaluation of photosynthetic performance by JIP test as well as assessment of growth and tissue B content might be used to determine the effects of B toxicity in wheat. The results indicated lesser sensitivity to B toxicity in Bolal-2973 compared to Atay-85., M. T. Öz, Ö. Turan, C. Kayihan, F. Eyidoğan, Y. Ekmekçi, M. Yücel, H. A. Öktem., and Obsahuje bibliografii
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.