Ascorbate is an important antioxidant involved in both enzymatic and nonenzymatic reactions in plant cells. To reveal the function of ascorbate associated with defense against photo-oxidative damage, responses of the ascorbate-deficient mutant vtc2-1 of Arabidopsis thaliana to high-light stress were investigated. After high-light treatment at 1,600 μmol(photon) m-2 s-1 for 8 h, the vtc2-1 mutant exhibited visible photo-oxidative damage. The total ascorbate content was lower, whereas accumulation of H2O2 was higher in the vtc2-1 mutant than that in the wild type. The chlorophyll (Chl) content and PSII Chl fluorescence parameters, such as maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, yield, and electron transport rate, in vtc2-1 mutant decreased more than that in the wild type, whereas the nonphotochemical quenching coefficient increased more in the wild type than that in vtc2-1 mutant. Therefore, the vtc2-1 mutant was more sensitive to high-light stress than the wild type. Accumulation of reactive oxygen species was mainly responsible for the damage of PSII in the vtc2-1 mutant under high light. The results indicate that ascorbate plays a critical role in maintaining normal photosynthetic function in plants under high-light stress., L.-D. Zeng, M. Li, W. S. Chow, C.-L. Peng., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
Photosynthetic rates of green leaves (GL) and green flower petals (GFP) of the CAM plant Dendrobium cv. Burana Jade and their sensitivities to different growth irradiances were studied in shade-grown plants over a period of 4 weeks. Maximal photosynthetic O2 evolution rates and CAM acidities [dawn/dusk fluctuations in titratable acidity] were higher in leaves exposed to intermediate sunlight [a maximal photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 500-600 µmol m-2 s-1] than in leaves grown under full sunlight (a maximal PPFD of 1 000-1 200 µmol m-2 s-1) and shade (a maximal PPFD of 200-250 µmol m-2 s-1). However, these two parameters of GFP were highest in plants grown under the shade and lowest in full sun-grown plants. Both GL and GFP of plants exposed to full sunlight had lower predawn Fv/Fm [dark adapted ratio of variable to maximal fluorescence (the maximal photosystem 2 yield without actinic irradiation)] than those of shade-grown plants. When exposed to intermediate sunlight, however, there were no significant changes in predawn Fv/Fm in GL whereas a significant decrease in predawn Fv/Fm was found in GFP of the same plant. GFP exposed to full sunlight exhibited a greater decrease in predawn Fv/Fm compared to those exposed to intermediate sunlight. The patterns of changes in total chlorophyll (Chl) content of GL and GFP were similar to those of Fv/Fm. Although midday Fv/Fm fluctuated with prevailing irradiance, changes of midday Fv/Fm after exposure to different growth irradiances were similar to those of predawn Fv/Fm in both GL and GFP. The decreases in predawn and midday Fv/Fm were much more pronounced in GFP than in GL under full sunlight, indicating greater sensitivity in GFP to high irradiance (HI). In the laboratory, electron transport rate and photochemical and non-photochemical quenching of Chl fluorescence were also determined under different irradiances. All results indicated that GFP are more susceptible to HI than GL. Although the GFP of Dendrobium cv. Burana Jade require a lower amount of radiant energy for photosynthesis and this plant is usually grown in the shade, is not necessarily a shade plant. and J. He, L. C. D. Teo
In this article, related to a talk given at the International Meeting "Photosynthesis Research for Sustainability-2015", we honor Dr. George C. Papageorgiou, a highly respected scientist and an outstanding teacher and mentor. Praising him for these virtues, indispensable for research sustainability, we also bring to discussion aspects that undermine nowadays both education and research sustainability. We argue that these aspects are principally created by the predominant bureaucratic system, which, by favoring short-term utilitarian orientations and obeying "market laws", jeopardizes university freedom and autonomy, and has turned to "measuring" scientific "production" and establishing accordingly designed funding policies and hiring/firing/promotion criteria, which lead to merit-chasing, grant-hunting, changes in publication practice, and suppression of heterodox ideas. Such system impedes research, creates antagonism, and drives the potentially creative researcher away from originality and discovery, and from the unique satisfaction and benefit that these bring., M. Tsimilli-Michael, P. Haldimann., Název rubriky: Opinion paper, and Obsahuje bibliografii