Maximal Photochemical Efficiency (maximal + photochemical_efficiency)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Xanthophyll Cycle and Inactivation of Photosystem II Reaction Centers Alleviating Reducing Pressure to Photosystem I in Morning Glory Leaves under Short-term High Irradiance

JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 7 2007
Xin-Guo Li
Abstract Under 30-min high irradiance (1500 ,mol m,2 s,1), the roles of the xanthophyll cycle and D1 protein turnover were investigated through chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in morning glory (Ipomoea setosa) leaves, which were dipped into water, dithiothreitol (DTT) and lincomycin (LM), respectively. During the stress, both the xanthophyll cycle and D1 protein turnover could protect PSI from photoinhibition. In DTT leaves, non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) was inhibited greatly and the oxidation level of P700 (P700+) was the lowest one. However, the maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) in DTT leaves was higher than that of LM leaves and was lower than that of control leaves. These results suggested that PSI was more sensitive to the loss of the xanthophyll cycle than PSII under high irradiance. In LM leaves, NPQ was partly inhibited, Fv/Fm was the lowest one among three treatments under high irradiance and P700+ was at a similar level as that of control leaves. These results implied that inactivation of PSII reaction centers could protect PSI from further photoinhibition. Additionally, the lowest of the number of active reaction centers to one inactive reaction center for a PSII cross-section (RC/CSo), maximal trapping rate in a PSII cross-section (TRo/CSo), electron transport in a PSII cross-section (ETo/CSo) and the highest of 1-qP in LM leaves further indicated that severe photoinhibition of PSII in LM leaves was mainly induced by inactivation of PSII reaction centers, which limited electrons transporting to PSI. However, relative to the LM leaves the higher level of RC/CSo, TRo/CSo, Fv/Fm and the lower level of 1-qP in DTT leaves indicated that PSI photoinhibition was mainly induced by the electron accumulation at the PSI acceptor side, which induced the decrease of P700+ under high irradiance. [source]


Regulation of Light Energy Utilization and Distribution of Photosynthesis in Five Subtropical Woody Plants

JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
Nan Liu
Abstract The adaptations and responses of photosynthesis to long- and short-term growth light gradient treatments were investigated in five subtropical forest plants, namely Pinus massoniana Lamb., Schima superba Gardn. et Champ., Castanopsis fissa (Champ. ex Benth.) Rehd. et Wils., Acmena acuminatissima (BI.) Merr et Perry, and Cryptocarya concinna Hance. With diurnal changes in sunlight and air temperature, the de-epoxidation state and lutein content in the five woody plants under three light intensities first increased and then decreased during the day. However, maximal photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm; where Fm is the maximum fluorescence yield and Fv is variable fluorescence) and the photochemical quantum yields of photosystem (PS) II (,PSII) of the species examined changed in the opposite manner, with those in plants grown under 100% natural light changing the most. After long-term treatment (21 months), anti-oxidant capacity (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH·)-scavenging capacity) and utilization of excitation energy showed differences in modulation by different light intensities. It was shown that A. acuminatissima and C. concinna, as dominant species in the late succession stage of a subtropical forest in Dinghu mountain, South China, were better able to adapt to different light environments. However, P. massoniana, the pioneer species of this forest, exhibited less adaptation to low light intensity and was definitely eliminated by the forest succession process. [source]


Antisense-Mediated Depletion of Tomato Chloroplast Omega-3 Fatty Acid Desaturase Enhances Thermal Tolerance

JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 9 2006
Xun-Yan Liu
Abstract A chloroplast-localized tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) ,-3 fatty acid desaturase gene (LeFAD7) was isolated and characterized with regard to its sequence, response to various temperatures, and function in antisense transgenic tomato plants. The deduced amino acid sequence had four histidine-rich regions, of which three regions were highly conserved throughout the whole ,-3 fatty acid desaturase gene family. Southern blotting analysis showed that LeFAD7 was encoded by a single copy gene and had two homologous genes in the tomato genome. Northern blot showed that LeFAD7 was expressed in all organs and was especially abundant in leaf tissue. Meanwhile, expression of LeFAD7 was induced by chilling stress (4 °C), but was inhibited by high temperature (45 °C), in leaves. Transgenic tomato plants were produced by integration of the antisense LeFAD7 DNA under the control of a CaMV35S promoter into the genome. Antisense transgenic plants with lower 18:3 content could maintain a higher maximal photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) and O2 evolution rate than wild-type plants. These results suggested that silence of the LeFAD7 gene alleviated high-temperature stress. There was also a correlation between the low content of 18:3 resulting from silence of the LeFAD7 gene and tolerance to high-temperature stress. (Managing editor: Li-Hui Zhao) [source]


TEMPERATURE INDUCED PHOTOINHIBITION IN OUTDOOR CULTURES OF MONODUS SUBTERRANEUS

JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 2000
A. Vonshak
Outdoor algal cultures are continuously exposed to changes in environmental conditions, particularly irradiance and temperature. While the changes in light intensity take place in a range of one to two hours, the increase in temperature is a slower process and takes about four to five hours. This de-synchronization between the two important environmental factors governing photosynthesis and growth of algae results in a unique stress condition where photoinhibition can be induced at relatively low light intensity. Outdoors the early morning culture temperature was found to be about 12 to 14° C, and reaches 25 to 28° C at mid-day. In an experiment, such a natural temperature regime was compared to another one in which the morning temperature of the culture was increased to 20° C by using a heating system. A fast decline in the maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) was observed starting as soon as sunrise. The decline was faster in the non-heated culture and was to a lower value. The diurnal changes in the electron transfer rate (ETR) and in the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of the cultures, indicated that the early morning exposure of cells to sub-optimal temperature results in a fast inactivation of PSII activity which was reflected in an inhibition of the photosynthetic activity even when the two cultures finally reached the same temperature at mid-day. Thus, under the same light and temperature mid-day conditions the ETR was higher and the NPQ was significantly lower in the heated culture. Significant changes in productivity of the cultures also were observed. [source]


Midday depression of photosynthesis and effects of mist spray in citrus

ANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2009
M.-J. Hu
Abstract Diurnal variations of gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence and some related biochemical characteristics in sun-acclimated mature citrus leaves of mist-sprayed (treatment) and unsprayed (control) trees were compared on sunny days during summer to identify the environmental and physiological factors limiting carbon gain in citrus tree canopies. At midday, net photosynthesis and maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) in citrus leaves decreased significantly under control conditions, but the decrease was mitigated by mist spraying. Although the content of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide and activities of antioxidant enzymes increased at midday in both mist-sprayed and control leaves, they were much higher in control leaves than in mist-sprayed leaves. The level of D1 protein decreased significantly in control leaves at midday and then was partly recovered later, while that in treated leaves changed to a much lesser extent because of alleviation of photoinhibition by mist spraying. Both the fast and the slow phases of millisecond-delayed light emissions in treated citrus leaves were higher than those in control leaves, indicating that mist spraying protects the normal operation of the photosynthetic apparatus in leaves. Mist spraying also reduced leaf temperatures and the ratio of air to leaf vapour pressure deficit (ALVPD), leading to increases in stomatal conductance (gs) and alleviation of photoinhibition at midday. It is concluded that the decline of leaf gs under high-ALVPD conditions in summer is an important factor contributing to midday depression of photosynthesis in citrus, and mist spraying is effective in alleviating midday depression of photosynthesis in citrus leaves. [source]