The transfer of light energy from phycobilisomes (PBS) to photosystem II (PSII) reaction centers is vital for photosynthesis in cyanobacteria and red algae. To investigate the relationship between PBS and PSII and to optimize the energy transfer efficiency from PBS to PSII, isolation of the PBS-PSII supercomplex is necessary. SPC (sucrose/phosphate/citrate) is a conventional buffer for isolating PBS-PSII supercomplex in cyanobacteria. However, the energy transfer occurring in the supercomplex is poor. Here, we developed a new buffer named SGB by adding 1M glycinebetaine and additional sucrose to SPC buffer. Compared to SPC, the newly developed SGB buffer greatly enhanced the associated populations of PBS with thylakoid membranes and PSII and further improved the energy transfer efficiency from PBS to PSII reaction centers in cyanobacteria in vitro. Therefore, we conclude that SGB is an excellent buffer for isolating the PBS-PSII supercomplex and for enhancing the energy transfer efficiency from PBS to PSII reaction centers in cyanobacteria in vitro., L. P. Chen, Q. X. Wang, W. M. Ma., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The development of smartphones, specifically their cameras, and imaging technologies has enabled their use as sensors/measurement tools. Here we aimed to evaluate the applicability of a fast and noninvasive method for the estimation of total chlorophyll (Chl), Chl a, Chl b, and carotenoids (Car) content of soybean plants using a smartphone camera. Single leaf disc images were obtained using a smartphone camera. Subsequently, for the same leaf discs, a Chl meter was used to obtain the relative index of Chl and the photosynthetic pigments were then determined using a classic method. The RGB, HSB and CIELab color models were extracted from the smartphone images and correlated to Chl values obtained using a Chl meter and by a standard laboratory protocol. The smartphone camera was sensitive enough to capture successfully a broad range of Chl and Car contents seen in soybean leaves. Although there was a variation between color models, some of the proposed regressions (e.g., the S and b index from HSB and Lab color models and NRI [RGB model]) were very close to the Chl meter values. Based on our findings, smartphones can be used for rapid and accurate estimation of soybean and Car contents in soybean leaves., J. P. G. Rigon, S. Capuani, D. M. Fernandes, T. M. Guimarães., and Obsahuje bibliografii
A phycoerythrin-allophycocyanin (PE-AP) complex was obtained from intact phycobilisomes of the marine red alga Polysiphonia urceolata. Study of spectral properties and polypeptide components showed that the complex contains PE, phycocyanin, AP, and higher proportional linker proteins of the four groups present in intact phycobilisomes. and Li Sun, Shumei Wang.
PAM (pulse amplitude modulation) fluorometers can be used to estimate the electron transport rate (ETR) [μmol(e-) m-2 s-1] from photosynthetic yield determinations, provided the absorptance (Abtλ) of the photoorganism is known. The standard assumed value used for absorptance is 0.84 (leaf absorptance factor, AbtF). We described a reflectance-absorptancetransmittance (RAT) meter for routine experimental measurements of the actual absorptance of leaves. The RAT uses a red-green-blue (RGB) LED diode light source to measure absorptances at wavelengths suitable for use with PAM fluorometers and infrared gas analysers. Results using the RAT were compared to Abtλ spectra using a Taylor integrating sphere on bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus), banana, Doryanthes excelsa, Kalanchoe daigremontiana, and sugarcane. Parallel venation had no significant effect upon Abt465 in banana, Doryanthes, a Dendrobium orchid, pineapple, and sugarcane, but there was a slight difference in the case of the fern A. nidus. The average Abt465 (approximately 0.96) and Abt625 (approximately 0.89) were approximately 14% and 6% higher than the standard value (AbtF = 0.84). The PAR-range Abt400-700 was only approximately 5% higher than the standard value (approximately 0.88) based on averaged absorptance from the blue, green, and red light data and from where the RGB-diode was used as a ‘white’ light source. In some species, absorptances at blue and red wavelengths are quite different (e.g. water lily). Reflectance measurements of leaves using the RAT would also be useful for remote sensing studies., R. J. Ritchie, J. W. Runcie., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The effects of NaCl treatment on the photosynthetic machinery in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars differing in salt tolerance were investigated by comparison with iso-osmotic PEG treatment. Both cultivars similarly reduced the photosystem 2 (PS2) energy conversion efficiency (ΦPS2) rapidly when plants were exposed to a 100 mM NaCl solution, though no decline was detected under the iso-osmotic PEG treatment. There was no correlation between the reduction of the leaf relative water content (RWC) and the ΦPS2 in the two iso-osmotic stress treatments. In contrast, a decline of ΦPS2 along with the increase of the leaf sodium content above 4 % dry matter was detected under the NaCl treatment, while no such correlation was detected with other cations. The recovery of ΦPS2 after photoinhibitory irradiation was repressed by the NaCl treatment as the increase of the duration of the treatment. Norin 61 subjected to the 100 mM NaCl treatment for 10 d showed a decline of the ΦPS2 after 1 h moderate irradiation of 400 μmol m-2 s-1 PPFD. Thus the concentrated Na+ within a leaf under salinity treatments may decrease the stability of PS2 functions and lead to photochemical inactivation. and S. Muranaka, K. Shimizu, M. Kato.
Measurement of leaf area is commonly used in many horticultural research experiments, but it is generally destructive, requiring leaves to be removed for measurement. Determining the individual leaf area (LA) of bedding plants like pot marigold (Calendula officinalis L.), dahlia (Dahlia pinnata), sweet William (Dianthus barbatus L.), geranium (Pelargonium × hortorum), petunia (Petunia × hybrida), and pansy (Viola wittrockiana) involves measurements of leaf parameters such as length (L) and width (W) or some combinations of these parameters. Two experiments were carried out during spring 2010 (on two pot marigold, four dahlia, three sweet William, four geranium, three petunia, and three pansy cultivars) and summer 2010 (on one cultivar per species) under greenhouse conditions to test whether a model could be developed to estimate LA of bedding plants across cultivars. Regression analysis of LA versus L and W revealed several models that could be used for estimating the area of individual bedding plants leaves. A linear model having LW as the independent variable provided the most accurate estimate (highest R2, smallest mean square error, and the smallest predicted residual error sum of squares) of LA in all bedding plants. Validation of the model having LW of leaves measured in the summer 2010 experiment coming from other cultivars of bedding plants showed that the correlation between calculated and measured bedding plants leaf areas was very high. Therefore, these allometric models could be considered simple and useful tools in many experimental comparisons without the use of any expensive instruments. and F. Giuffrida ... [et al.].
Light is critical in determining plant structure and functioning in dune ecosystems, which are characterised by high incident and reflected radiation. Light variations demand great plasticity of the photosynthetic apparatus. This study assessed the phenotypic plasticity of foredune species by analysing their light response and dark recovery curves measured under field conditions. We also addressed the question how coexisting species, structurally distinct, differed in their photochemical efficiency in response to short-term changes in light. Finally, we examined how the varying intensity of stressors operating along a dune gradient affected responses to light. The species differed in light use strategies but showed similar patterns of the dark recovery. Species differences in photochemistry varied seasonally, with species being winter specialists, summer specialist or generalists. Some aspects of their photochemistry varied significantly along the gradient. Unexpectedly, other traits did not vary as predicted. For example, changes in light efficiency of plants along the gradient were not consistent with assumed directional changes in the severity of stressors. The different light use strategies observed in coexisting species did not conform to the prediction that stressors constrain the range of possible functional designs in harsh environments. However, the species followed very similar patterns of post-illumination recovery, which suggests that evolutionary pressures might be acting to maintain similar recovery mechanisms. Our results indicated that dune gradients might be nondirectional, which determines unpredictable patterns of variation in leaf traits along the dune gradient. Seasonal differences in the relative performance may allow species to coexist where otherwise one species would exclude the other., R. Bermúdez, R. Retuerto., and Obsahuje bibliografii
We studied gas exchange of leaves on branches that had been cut and then re-cut under water to assess the utility of measuring gas exchange on leaves of excised canopy branches. There was large variation between species in their ability to photosynthesize following excision. Some species maintained up to 86.5% of intact photosynthetic rate 60 min after excision, whereas other species dropped below 40% of intact photosynthetic rates within 3 min. Three species showed significant reductions in maximum rates of gross photosynthetic rate (PG) on leaves of excised branches relative to intact branches. Excision significantly reduced carboxylation rates (Vcmax) in four species and electron transport (Jmax) in two species. There were also significant increases in compensation irradiance and reductions of day rates of respiration relative to intact measurements. While gas exchange on excised branches can provide useful measures for canopy species, responses of individual species to branch excision need to be taken into account. Measurements on pre-screened species allow a greater understanding of canopy photosynthesis of large trees when canopy access is not an option. and L. S. Santiago, S. S. Mulkey.
We have developed a simple and an effective method for the isolation of photochemically active broken chloroplasts from conifer needles that can be applied for a wide variety of conifer species with needle-like leaves. The utilisation of this method in photosynthetic studies offers a possibility to examine the efficiency of almost any component of thylakoid electron-transport chain and to disclose information about individual parts of primary photosynthetic processes that would be otherwise difficult to obtain. Various aspects influencing the outcome of this procedure, including the amount of needles necessary for sufficient yields, the possible length and the conditions of their storage, the best method for their disruption, the composition and pH of isolation and storage buffers, the centrifugation sequence, etc., are discussed., D. Holá ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii
A new chamber was developed for a simultaneous measurement of fluorescence kinetics and oxygen exchange in filamentous and thallous algae as well as in small leaves of water plants. Algal filaments or thalli are kept by a stainless grid close to the bottom window of the chamber in the sample compartment. The grid separates the object from the electrode compartment with the oxygen electrode at the top. This compartment accommodates, in addition, a magnetic stirrer that provides efficient circulation of the medium between the sample and the electrode. This magnetic bar spins on a fixed axis and is driven by an electronically commutated magnetic field produced by four coils which are arranged around the chamber. This design yields a very favourable signal to noise ratio in the oxygen electrode records. Consequently, measurements can be performed even of algae with very low photosynthetic rates such as marine low-light red algae or algae under severe stress. For irradiation of the samples and for fluorescence measurements a fibre optic light guide is used facing the window of the chamber. The four branches of a commercially available light guide serve the following purposes: collection of sample fluorescence and supply of measuring, actinic, and saturating light, respectively. and H. Küpper, I. Šetlík, M. Hlásek.