UV-B对设施桃叶片光合功能及叶绿体超微结构的影响

对温室栽培的油桃中油5号(Prunus persica var. nectarina cv. ‘Zhongyou5’)适量补充UV-B, 分析其对桃叶片光合功能及叶绿体超微结构的影响。结果表明, UV-B处理下各色素含量均有不同程度的增加, 其中叶绿素b的含量和净光合速率(P_n)提升幅度较大。相较于未补充UV-B的桃树(对照), UV-B处理的F_v/F_m无显著变化, F_v'/F_m'比值、光化学猝灭系数(qP)、非光化学猝灭系数(qN)以及PSII实际光化学量子效率(Φ_PSII)均有显著或极显著升高。透射电镜结果显示, UV-B处理下叶绿体基质片层空隙小, 堆叠紧密, 叶绿体外膜边缘清晰。可见, 温室内适量补充UV-B可快速改善叶片叶绿体的超微结构, 提升叶绿素分子捕获光能及向PSII传递的能力, 增大PSII反应中心的开放程度, 提高实际光能转化效率和PSII电子传递量子效率, 提高叶片的光合功能。该研究为设施果树光合性能改善和UV-B合理利用提供了理论依据。     

5-氨基乙酰丙酸对NaCl胁迫下番茄幼苗光合特性的影响

为探讨5-氨基乙酰丙酸（ALA）对NaCl胁迫下番茄光合特性的调控作用,以‘金鹏一号’番茄幼苗为试材,研究叶面喷施50 mg·L^-1或根施10 mg·L^-1 ALA对100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫下番茄幼苗光合及叶绿素荧光参数的影响.结果表明： NaCl胁迫下,番茄幼苗光合气体交换参数（净光合速率P_n、气孔导度g_s、胞间CO₂浓度C_i、蒸腾速率T_r）及叶绿素荧光参数（实际光化学量子产量F_v′/F_m′、F_m′、PSⅡ反应中心实际光化学效率Φ_PSⅡ、表观光合电子传递效率ETR、光化学淬灭q_P、光化学反应Pc）均显著降低,根施或叶施ALA均可以提高NaCl胁迫下番茄叶片的光合能力,但两种处理方式之间存在一定差异.叶面喷施50 mg·L^-1ALA或根施10 mg·L^-1ALA处理均显著提高了番茄叶片P_n、T_r、g_s和C_i,提高了水分利用效率（WUE）,显著增加了NaCl胁迫下叶片的最大净光合速率,减轻了光抑制.根施ALA对叶绿素含量的作用效果较好,而叶施ALA对光合参数的作用效果较好,两处理叶绿素荧光参数差异不显著.叶面喷施或根施ALA可以提高番茄幼苗的耐盐性,其调控作用与促进叶绿素合成与稳定、维持正常气孔开闭、降低气孔限制,进而提高NaCl胁迫下番茄叶片的光合能力和PSⅡ光化学效率有关.
     

铝胁迫对蓼科植物生长和光合、蒸腾特性的影响

采用水培试验,设置5种铝处理浓度,研究了铝对3种蓼科植物酸模叶蓼、杠板归和辣蓼叶片光合、蒸腾和叶绿素荧光参数的影响。结果表明,高铝处理(400μmol.L-1)显著抑制3种蓼科植物地上部和根系生长,并且导致3种蓼科植物叶片叶绿素含量、Chla/Chlb、净光合速率(Pn)、水分利用效率(WUE)、PSII光合电子传递量子效率(φPSII)和光化学猝灭系数(qP)显著下降。中低铝处理(25~100μmol.L-1)时,与对照相比,酸模叶蓼生物量显著增加,杠板归显著减少,辣蓼先增加后减少。其中,酸模叶蓼和辣蓼叶绿素含量、Chla/Chlb、Pn、蒸腾速率(Tr)、胞间CO2浓度(Ci)、PSII最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、qP均未发生显著变化,但辣蓼WUE、φPSII和非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)显著下降,酸模叶蓼无显著变化;而杠板归除Ci、Fv/Fm外,其余叶片光合、蒸腾及叶绿素荧光参数均出现显著下降。上述结果表明,酸模叶蓼在中低铝处理条件下可通过保持较高的叶绿素含量、Chla/Chlb、WUE、Pn、PSII反应中心光化学反应效率以及提高非辐射能量耗散来增强其对铝的耐性。     

NaCl胁迫下黄连木叶片光合特性及快速叶绿素荧光诱导动力学曲线的变化

以1年生黄连木为试材,设置NaCl浓度分别为0(CK)、0.15%、0.3%、0.45%、0.6%5个处理,利用快速叶绿素荧光诱导动力学曲线分析技术(JIP-test),研究了NaCl胁迫对黄连木叶片光合特性和快速叶绿素荧光诱导动力学参数的影响.结果表明: 随着NaCl浓度的升高, 黄连木叶片中的叶绿素a、叶绿素b和总叶绿素含量逐渐降低,叶绿素a/b比值先升高后下降,类胡萝卜素含量逐渐增加; 叶片的净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(g_s)逐渐降低,其中NaCl浓度＜0.3%时,叶片P_n下降主要受气孔限制;当NaCl浓度＞0.3%时, P_n下降主要由非气孔因素限制;单位面积捕获的光能(TR_o/CS_o)、电子传递的量子产额(ET_o/CS_o)、单位面积的反应中心数量(RC/CS_o)、量子产额或能量分配比率(ψ_o和φ_Eo)逐渐降低,而单位面积吸收的光能(ABS/CS_o)、荧光诱导曲线中K点(W_k)和J点(V_j)明显增加,说明盐胁迫对黄连木叶片放氧复合体(OEC)、受体侧和PSⅡ反应中心造成了伤害.当NaCl浓度为0.3%时,PSⅡ最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)和光化学性能指数(PI_ABS)分别比对照下降 17.7%和36.6%.     

除草剂对葡萄叶片光合作用及贮藏营养的影响

选择3个相邻的葡萄承包户,测定生长季使用除草剂对巨峰葡萄叶片光合机构及枝条贮藏营养的影响.结果表明:与人工除草(CK)相比,2009年使用除草剂的葡萄园(T1和T2)葡萄叶片净光合速率(Pn)明显降低,其中T1园内第4节和T2园内第6节叶片Pn降幅最大,分别为40.5％和32.1％;而除草剂对叶片气孔导度(Gs)的影响较小.2010年继续喷施除草剂的T1葡萄园叶片Pn仍显著低于对照,而停止喷施除草剂、改为人工除草的T2葡萄园中上部叶片的Pn和Gs稍高于T1,但Pn仍显著低于对照,表现为除草剂残留的后效作用.2009年,使用除草剂降低了葡萄叶片光系统Ⅱ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)和性能指数(PI),快速叶绿素荧光诱导动力学曲线(OJIP)中J点和K点荧光上升,叶片反应中心和放氧复合体破坏程度较高;喷施除草剂显著降低了葡萄中部叶片的色素含量,且浓度越大降幅越大.除草剂处理显著提高了所有部位叶片过氧化氢酶(CAT)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性;提高了中部叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性,而显著降低了上部和下部叶片的SOD活性;上部叶片的抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性显著降低,而中、下部叶片显著提高.使用除草剂加剧了葡萄叶片膜脂过氧化程度,导致枝条可溶性糖、淀粉、游离氨基酸和可溶性蛋白含量明显下降.     

不同干旱胁迫对山葡萄的光合作用和光系统II活性的影响

以山葡萄品种中抗性较强的‘左山一’和抗性较弱的‘双丰’品种为材料,利用气体交换分析和叶绿素荧光诱导动力学分析手段,研究了干旱胁迫对不同抗性山葡萄品种的光合作用和PSII活性的影响。结果显示,2种山葡萄叶片的净光合速率均随着干旱胁迫的加重而下降,并且细胞间隙CO2浓度升高,证明非气孔限制是干旱胁迫造成山葡萄光合速率下降的主要原因。JIP-test分析发现,干旱胁迫导致‘双丰’叶片相对荧光诱导动力学曲线中J点和I点相对可变荧光上升,同时出现了明显的K点,‘左山一’叶片的相对荧光诱导动力学曲线没有明显变化,说明干旱胁迫对‘双丰’叶片PSII电子供体侧和受体侧造成的伤害要显著大于对‘左山一’叶片的伤害,且干旱胁迫对‘双丰’叶片的最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、吸收光能为基础的光化学性能指数(PIABS)、单位面积有活性反应中心的密度(RS/CS)及单位面积用于电子传递的光能(ETo/CS)的改变幅度显著大于‘左山一’。干旱胁迫通过干扰山葡萄叶片PSII电子供体侧、受体侧以及电子传递链的功能,严重的伤害了叶片光合机构的正常功能。干旱胁迫对抗旱性较强的‘左山一’PSII活性的影响显著小于对抗旱性较弱的‘双丰’葡萄。     

气温和根区温度对葡萄叶片光合荧光特性的影响

为探究气温和根区温度对葡萄(Vitis vinifera)叶片光合荧光特性的影响, 以一年生巨峰葡萄为试材, 设置对照、高气温、高根区温度和两者交叉作用共4组处理。结果表明, 相较于对照和高气温, 高根区温度以及交叉处理叶片最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)降低更明显; 与对照相比, 高根区温度以及高气温与高根区温度交叉处理下光系统II (PSII)实际光化学效率Y(II)显著降低, 非调节能量耗散的量子产量Y(NPQ)及Q_A氧化还原状态(1-q_P)值显著上升。同时, 高根区温度以及高气温与高根区温度交叉处理显著增加了J点的可变荧光(V_j), 而用于电子传递的量子产额(φ_Eo)及性能指数(PI_ABS)显著降低。此外, 高根区温度以及高气温与高根区温度交叉处理下单位面积有活性的反应中心数目(RC/CS_m)也显著下降, K点相对可变荧光(W_k)明显上升。综上所述, 高根区温度是高气温与根区高温交叉胁迫的主导因子, PSII受体侧是主要的伤害位点, 高气温加剧了高根区温度对PSII造成的伤害。     

脱落酸对低温下雷公藤幼苗光合作用及叶绿素荧光的影响

以1年生雷公藤扦插苗为试材,研究低温胁迫下不同浓度外源脱落酸（ABA,0、5、10、15、20、25 mg·L^-1)叶面喷施处理对雷公藤叶片光合作用及叶绿素荧光参数的影响.结果表明：喷施20 mg·L^-1的ABA能显著提高雷公藤幼苗的抗冷性,减缓低温下雷公藤叶片净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、气孔导度(g_s)、胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)的下降幅度,提高幼苗叶片的光合能力.低温处理6 d后,随着ABA浓度上升,雷公藤叶片的初始荧光(F_o)下降,最大荧光(F_m)和PSII最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)上升,PSII实际光化学量子产量(Φ_PSⅡ)、光化学猝灭系数(q_P)先下降后上升,而非光化学猝灭系数(q_N)呈下降－上升－下降趋势.P_n、g_s、q_P、F_m和F_v/F_m均在20 mg·L^-1ABA处理时达到峰值.不同浓度ABA的相对电子传递速率(rETR)随着光化光强度增加呈先上升后下降的趋势,当光化光强度(PAR)达到395 μmol·m^-2s^-1时,各处理的rETR达到最高值,其中25 mg·L^-1和20 mg·L^-1ABA处理分别比对照高17.1%和5.2%.雷公藤叶片Φ_PSⅡ的光响应曲线均随光化光强度升高而下降,q_N的光响应曲线则呈相反趋势.     

高大气CO2浓度下氮素对小麦叶片光能利用的影响

关于氮素对高大气CO₂浓度下C₃植物光合作用适应现象的调节机理已有较为深入的研究, 但对其光合作用适应现象的光合能量转化和分配机制缺乏系统分析。该文以大气CO₂浓度和施氮量为处理手段, 通过测定小麦(Triticum aestivum)抽穗期叶片的光合作用-胞间CO₂浓度响应曲线以及荧光动力学参数来测算光合电子传递速率和分配去向, 研究了长期高大气CO₂浓度下小麦叶片光合电子传递和分配对施氮量的响应。结果表明, 与正常大气CO₂浓度处理相比, 高大气CO₂浓度下小麦叶片较多的激发能以热量的形式耗散, 增施氮素可使更多的激发能向光化学反应方向的分配, 降低光合能量的热耗散速率; 大气CO₂浓度升高后小麦叶片光化学淬灭系数无明显变化, 高氮叶片的非光化学猝灭降低而低氮叶片明显升高, 施氮促进PSII反应中心的开放比例, 降低光能的热耗散; 高大气CO₂浓度下高氮叶片通过PSII反应中心的光合电子传递速率(J_F)较高, 而且参与光呼吸的非环式电子流速率(J₀)显著降低, 较正常大气CO₂浓度处理的高氮叶片下降了88.40%, 光合速率增加46.47%; 高大气CO₂浓度下小麦叶片J_F-J₀升高而J₀/J_F显著下降, 光呼吸耗能被抑制, 更多的光合电子分配至光合还原过程。因此, 大气CO₂浓度增高条件下, 小麦叶片激发能的热耗散速率增加, 但增施氮素后小麦叶片PSII反应中心开放比例提高, 光化学速率增加, 进入PSII反应中心的电子流速率明显升高, 光呼吸作用被抑制, 光合电子较多地进入光化学过程, 这可能是高氮条件下光合作用适应性下调被缓解的一个原因。     

锶对油菜幼苗叶片光合作用的影响

锶对植物光合作用影响尚未见系统研究报道。通过叶绿素荧光诱导动力学和光合气体交换参数详细研究了不同浓度的锶(1、5、10和20 mmol·L^–1SrCl₂)对油菜(Brassica napus)叶片光合作用的影响。荧光诱导动力学分析结果表明, 光系统II(PSII)的潜在活性(F_v/F_o)、实际光化学效率(Y(II))、表观光合电子传递速率(ETR)和光化学淬灭(qP)在低浓度(1和5 mmol·L^–1)锶处理时显著上升, 在高浓度(10和20 mmol·L^–1)锶处理时显著下降; 初始荧光强度(F_o)和非光化学淬灭(NPQ)在低浓度锶处理时变化不明显, 但在高浓度下显著上升。光合气体交换参数分析结果表明, 叶片的净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)在低浓度锶处理时显著上升, 而在高浓度锶处理时显著下降; 气孔导度(G_s)随锶处理浓度的增加一直呈显著下降趋势; 胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)在低浓度锶处理时轻微下降, 高浓度锶处理时显著增加。此外, 叶绿素含量在低浓度锶处理时显著增加, 在高浓度处理时则显著下降。这些结果均表明, 低浓度锶处理可以改善油菜叶片的光合功能, 增加叶片光合效率; 而高浓度锶则会妨碍叶片光合功能, 导致光合效率显著下降。     

Characterization of target site of aluminum phytotoxicity in photosynthetic electron transport by fluorescence techniques in tobacco leaves

Aluminum (Al) toxicity limits crop yield in acidic soil through affecting diverse metabolic processes, especially photosynthesis. The aim of this work was to examine the effect of Al on photosynthetic electron transport in vivo as determined by chlorophyll fluorescence and delayed fluorescence of tobacco leaves. Results showed that Al treatment inhibited the photosynthetic rate and electron transfer, and decreased photosystem (PS) II photochemical activity in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, which could not be obviously alleviated by the addition of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger ascorbic acid (AsA). These results suggested that photosynthetic electron transfer chain components, especially PSII, might be directly damaged by Al instead of in an ROS-dependent manner. Furthermore, the fluorescence imaging and biochemical analysis exhibited that Al, after entering the cells, could accumulate in the chloroplasts, which paralleled the decreased content of Fe in the chloroplast. The changes in the chlorophyll fluorescence decay curve, the delayed fluorescence decay curve and the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters indicated that Al, through interacting with or replacing the non-heme iron between Q(A) and Q(B), caused the inhibition of electron transfer between Q(A) and Q(B), resulting in PSII photochemical damage and inhibition of the photosynthetic rate. In summary, our results characterized the target site of Al phytotoxicity in photosynthetic electron transport, providing new insight into the mechanism of Al phytotoxicity-induced chloroplast dysfunction and photosynthetic damage.     

Photosynthesis and activity of photosystem II in response to drought stress in Amur Grape (Vitis amurensis Rupr.)

The Amur Grape (Vitis amurensis Rupr.) cultivars ??shuangFeng?? and ??ZuoShanyi?? were grown in shelter greenhouse under natural sunlight and subjected to drought. Sap flow rate, net photosynthetic rate (P _N), and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence were measured on Amur Grape leaves subjected to different drought treatments. Significant decreases in P _N were associated with increasing intercellular CO₂ concentration (C _i), suggesting that the reduction in P _N was caused by nonstomatal limitation. Analysis of OJIP transients according to the JIP-test protocol revealed that specific (per PSII reaction center) energy fluxes for light absorption, excitation energy trapping and electron transport have significantly changed. The appearance of a pronounced K-step and J-step in polyphasic rise of fluorescence transient suggested the oxygen-evolving complex and electron transport were inhibited. Drought stress has relatively little effect on the parameter maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (F_v/F_m), but the performance index (PIABS) is more sensitive in different drought treatment. There are cultivar differences in the response of PSII activity to drought, the photosynthetic apparatus of ??ZuoShanyi?? cultivar is more resistant to drought than that of ??ShuangFeng??, and JIP-test could be a useful indicator for evaluation and selection to drought tolerance.     

PSII photochemistry in vegetative buds and needles of Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) probed by OJIP chlorophyll a fluorescence measurement

Vegetative buds represent developmental stage of Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) needles where chloroplast biogenesis and photosynthetic activity begin. We used the analyses of polyphasic chlorophyll a fluorescence rise (OJIP) to compare photosystem II (PSII) functioning in vegetative buds and fully photosynthetically active mature current-year needles. Considerably decreased performance index (PIABS) in vegetative buds compared to needles pointed to their low photosynthetic efficiency. Maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm) in buds was slightly decreased but above limited value for functionality indicating that primary photochemistry of PSII is not holdback of vegetative buds photosynthetic activity. The most significant difference observed between investigated developmental stages was accumulation of reduced primary quinine acceptor of PSII (QA-) in vegetative buds, as a result of its limited re-oxidation by passing electrons to secondary quinone acceptor, QB. We suggest that reduced electron transfer from QA- to QB could be the major limiting factor of photosynthesis in vegetative buds.     

High resolution imaging of photosynthetic activities of tissues, cells and chloroplasts in leaves

Through imaging of chlorophyll fluorescence, it is possible to produce parameterized fluorescence images that estimate the operating quantum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry and which can be used to reveal heterogeneous patterns of photosynthetic performance within leaves. The operating quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry is dependent upon the effective absorption cross-section of the light-harvesting system of PSII and the photochemical capacity of PSII. The effective absorption cross-section is decreased by the process of down-regulation, which is widely thought to operate within the pigment matrices of PSII and which results in non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. The photochemical capacity is non-linearly related to the proportion of PSII centres in the 'open' state and results in photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. Examples of heterogeneity of the operating quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry during the induction of photosynthesis in maize leaves and in the chloroplast populations of stomatal guard cells of a leaf of Tradescantia albifora are presented, together with analyses of the factors determining this heterogeneity. A comparison of the operating quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry within guard cells and adjacent mesophyll cells of Commelina communis is also made, before and after stomatal closure through a change in ambient humidity.     

Two-step mechanism of photodamage to photosystem II: step 1 occurs at the oxygen-evolving complex and step 2 occurs at the photochemical reaction center

Under strong light, photosystem II (PSII) of oxygenic photosynthetic organisms is inactivated, and this phenomenon is called photoinhibition. In a widely accepted model, photoinhibition is induced by excess light energy, which is absorbed by chlorophyll but not utilized in photosynthesis. Using monochromatic light from the Okazaki Large Spectrograph and thylakoid membranes from Thermosynechococcus elongatus, we observed that UV and blue light inactivated the oxygen-evolving complex much faster than the photochemical reaction center of PSII. These observations suggested that the light-induced damage was associated with a UV- and blue light-absorbing center in the oxygen-evolving complex of PSII. The action spectrum of the primary event in photodamage to PSII revealed the strong effects of UV and blue light and differed considerably from the absorption spectra of chlorophyll and thylakoid membranes. By contrast to the photoinduced inactivation of the oxygen-evolving complex in untreated thylakoid membranes, red light efficiently induced inactivation of the PSII reaction center in Tris-treated thylakoid membranes, and the action spectrum resembled the absorption spectrum of chlorophyll. Our observations suggest that photodamage to PSII occurs in two steps. Step 1 is the light-induced inactivation of the oxygen-evolving complex. Step 2, occurring after step 1 is complete, is the inactivation of the PSII reaction center by light absorbed by chlorophyll. We confirmed our model by illumination of untreated thylakoid membranes with blue and UV light, which inactivated the oxygen-evolving complex, and then with red light, which inactivated the photochemical reaction center.     

Effect of exogenous 24-epibrassinolide on chlorophyll fluorescence,leaf surface morphology and cellular ultrastructure of grape seedlings (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vitis vinifera</Emphasis> L.) under water stress

The effects of 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) on chlorophyll fluorescence, leaf surface morphology and cellular ultrastructure of grape seedlings (Vitis vinifera L.) under water stress were investigated. The grape seedlings were subjected to 10 % (w/v) polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) and treated with 0.05, 0.10 or 0.20 mg L^?1 EBR, respectively. EBR application increased chlorophyll contents, the effective photochemical quantum yield of PSII, maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII, maximal fluorescence and non-photochemical quenching coefficient under water stress in each concentration. Compared with water stress control, higher stomatal density and stomatal length were observed in young leaves under EBR treatments, but not in mature leaves. In-depth analysis of the ultrastructure of leaves indicated that water stress induced disappearance of nucleus, chloroplast swelling, fractured mitochondrial cristae and disorder of thylakoid arrangement both in young leaves and mature leaves. However, EBR application counteracted the detrimental effects of water stress on the structure of the photosynthetic apparatus better in young leaves than in mature leaves. Compared to the other treatments, treatment of 0.10 mg L^?1 EBR had best ameliorative effect against water stress. These results suggested that exogenous EBR could alleviate water stress-induced inhibition of photosynthesis on grape possibly through increasing chlorophyll content, lessening the stomatal and non-stomatal limitation of photosynthesis performance.     

Analysis of elevated temperature-induced inhibition of photosystem II using chlorophyll a fluorescence induction kinetics in wheat leaves (Triticum aestivum)

Wheat is the major crop plant in many parts of the world. Elevated temperature-induced changes in photosynthetic efficiency were studied in wheat (T. aestivum) leaves by measuring Chl a fluorescence induction kinetics. Detached leaves were subjected to elevated temperature stress of 35 °C, 40 °C or 45 °C. Parameters such as Fv/Fm, performance index (PI), and reaction centre to absorbance ratio (RC/ABS) were deduced using radial plots from fluorescence induction curves obtained with a plant efficiency analyser (PEA). To derive precise information on fluorescence induction kinetics, energy pipeline leaf models were plotted using biolyzer hp3 software. At 35 °C, there was no effect on photosynthetic efficiency, including the oxygen-evolving complex, and the donor side of PSII remained active. At 40 °C, activity was reduced by 14%, while at 45 °C, a K intermediate step was observed, indicating irreversible damage to the oxygen-evolving complex. This analysis can be used to rapidly screen for vitality and stress tolerance characteristics of wheat growing in the field under high temperature stress.     

Oxidative damage to thylakoid proteins in water-stressed leaves of wheat (Triticum aestivum)

The production of reactive oxygen species in the chloroplast may increase under water deficit. To determine if this causes oxidative damage to the photosynthetic apparatus, we analyzed the accumulation of oxidatively damaged proteins in thylakoids of water-stressed wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) leaves. Water stress was imposed on 4-week-old plants by withholding watering for 10 days to reach a soil water potential of about −2.0 MPa. In thylakoids of water-stressed leaves there was an increase in oxidative damage, particularly in polypeptides of 68, 54, 41 and 24 kDa. High molecular mass oxidized (probably cross-linked) proteins accumulated in chloroplasts of droughted leaves. Oxidative damage was associated with a substantial decrease in photosynthetic electron transport activity and photosystem II (PSII) efficiency (F_v/F_m). Treatment of stressed leaves with l -galactono-1,4-lactone (GL) increased their ascorbic acid content and enhanced photochemical and non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. GL reduced oxidative damage to photosynthetic proteins of droughted plants, but it reverted the decrease in electron transport activity and PSII efficiency only partially, suggesting that other factors also contributed to loss of photosystem activity in droughted plants. Increasing the ascorbic acid content of leaves might be an effective strategy to protect thylakoid membranes from oxidative damage in water-stressed leaves.     

Copper effect on the protein composition of photosystem II

We provide data from in vitro experiments on the polypeptide composition, photosynthetic electron transport and oxygen evolution activity of intact photosystem II (PSII) preparations under Cu(II) toxicity conditions. Low Cu(II) concentrations (Cu(II) per PSII reaction centre unit≤230) that caused around 50% inhibition of variable chlorophyll a fluorescence and oxygen evolution activity did not affect the polypeptide composition of PSII. However, the extrinsic proteins of 33, 24 and 17 kDa of the oxygen-evolving complex of PSII were removed when samples were treated with 300 μ M CuCl₂ (Cu(II) per PSII reaction centre unit=1 400). The LHCII antenna complex and D1 protein of the reaction centre of PSII were not affected even at these Cu(II) concentrations. The results indicated that the initial inhibition of the PSII electron transport and oxygen-evolving activity induced by the presence of toxic Cu(II) concentrations occurred before the damage of the oxygen-evolving complex. Indeed, more than 50% inhibition could be achieved in conditions where its protein composition and integrity was apparently preserved.