遮阴对绣球光合特性和叶绿素荧光参数的影响北大核心CSCD

为了从光合作用机制及叶片吸收光能分配的角度解释绣球(Hydrangea macrophylla)对不同光环境的适应机制,探讨绣球对光环境变化的生理响应和适应性,该文以盆栽的绣球品种‘无尽夏新娘’为材料,设置遮阴(遮光率为50%、75%)两种处理,并以全光照为对照,经过60天的处理,测定其光合-光响应曲线、气体交换参数、叶绿素荧光参数。结果表明:遮阴60天后,绣球的暗呼吸速率、光补偿点和光饱和点均有所下降,而表观量子效率(AQY)上升,说明绣球能够通过这些途径提高对弱光的利用能力并降低呼吸消耗,以维持植株正常生长,从而表现出了极强的适应能力;在50%的遮阴处理下,绣球叶片的净光合速率、胞间CO2浓度、蒸腾速率和水分利用效率均与其全光照和75%遮阴处理下差异显著;遮阴导致光系统II(PSII)最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)增加,3种光照处理下呈显著差异,全光照下Fv/Fm低于50%遮阴处理,初始荧光水平高于50%遮阴处理,推断此条件下的绣球叶片发生了光抑制;而随着光照的减弱,非光化学淬灭系数在降低,说明遮阴降低了绣球叶片PSII天线色素吸收光能以热的形式耗散的比例,绣球叶片吸收的能量约70%用于热耗散,约20%用于非光化学反应,仅有4%的能量用于光化学反应,说明绣球处于饱和光环境下时,主要通过提高叶片吸收光能向热耗散等PSII调节性能量耗散途径的分配,削弱反应中心过量激发能的积累。     

城市遮阴环境变化对大叶黄杨光合过程的影响

城市遮阴与自然生态系统遮阴环境不同,它由城市中的建筑、基础设施等人工构筑物所产生,并对植物光合过程产生影响。采用Li-6400便携式光合作用测定系统对北京市不同建筑遮阴环境下的生态因子特征及大叶黄杨光合参数特性进行了现场实验对比观测与分析。研究显示:(1)城市建筑或基础设施布局或格局变化导致建筑遮阴环境光、温等生态因子的差异性变化,主要体现在光合有效辐射(PAR)在时间分布及强度上的显著差异。(2)遮阴改变大叶黄杨的光合参数,日净光合速率曲线为不规则单峰型,由遮阴进入太阳直射时,净光合速率(Pn)明显升高,随遮阴程度加重峰值时间有后延现象,完全遮阴时净光合速率最低。(3)大叶黄杨叶片在有一定时间太阳直射的中度遮阴(2.3h和5.5h)下适应性良好,日均净光合速率、光补偿点(LCP)、光合能力(P_nmax)、叶面积(LA)、比叶重(LMA)没有显著差异,植物主要通过光合色素含量及组成的改变来适应太阳直射时间变短(2.3h)的遮阴环境。(4)遮阴改变植物的光暗适应策略,没有阳光直射的重度遮阴下,大叶黄杨通过其光合、形态、光合色素等多方面的改变来适应遮阴环境,建筑重度遮阴严重影响植物光合过程。探讨了不同程度建筑遮阴对植物光合作用的影响及植物的适应机制,为基于提高其生态服务功能的树种配置和城市规划提供科学依据。     

遮阴对猫爪草光合特性及叶片解剖结构的影响

【目的】探究不同遮阴度对野生植物猫爪草（Ranunculus ternatus Thunb）光合特性和叶片解剖结构的影响,为深入了解其耐阴性以及开展规模化栽植提供理论基础。【方法】采用控制变量法,以盆栽猫爪草为试验材料,设置全光照（CK）、30%遮阴（T1）、50%遮阴（T2）、70%遮阴（T3）和90%遮阴（T4）5个处理,对不同遮阴处理下的光合特性及叶片解剖结构进行分析。【结果】（1）随着遮阴程度增加,叶面积在T3环境下达到最大值,株高和茎粗逐渐降低。（2）随遮阴程度的增加,叶片表观量子效率（AQE）先升后降,在T4处理下显著低于其他处理,而光饱和点（LSP）、光补偿点（LCP）、暗呼吸速率（Rd）和最大净光合速率（Pnmax）逐渐降低;最大荧光（Fm）、可变荧光（Fv）、最大化学效率（Fv/Fm）和PSⅡ潜在活性（Fv/F0）先升后降,初始荧光（F0）热耗散的电子比率（φDo）则先降后升。（3）随着遮阴程度的增加,叶片气孔密度先减后增,并在T3处理达到最小值,上下表皮厚度和海绵组织厚度逐渐降低,组织结构紧密度（CTR）先降后升,组织结构疏松度（SR）先升后降。（4）叶片栅栏组织、海绵组织、叶片厚度及上、下表皮厚度与Rd呈极显著或显著正相关关系;海绵组织厚度、CTR和SR与Pnmax ,以及栅海比（P/S）、SR与AQE均呈显著正相关关系;海绵组织厚度和SR与F0呈显著负相关关系。【结论】猫爪草可以通过降低光合速率和改变叶片结构来提高耐阴性,在全光照下生长良好,也能较好地适应30%-70%遮阴环境。     

苗期玉米叶片光合特性对水分胁迫的响应

以2个抗旱性不同的玉米品种为材料进行盆栽试验,在苗期设置4个水分梯度,研究气体交换和叶绿素荧光参数及光响应特征。结果表明:随水分胁迫的加剧,除细胞间CO2浓度(Ci)和非光化学淬灭(qN)上升外,其它参数均下降,先玉335(XY335)各参数的变化幅度小于陕单902(SD902);轻度胁迫下品种间气体交换参数差异最大,严重干旱下叶绿素荧光参数差异最大;净光合速率(Pn)和相对电子传递速率(rETR)的光响应曲线拟合结果显示,水分胁迫导致玉米叶片最大光合速率和光能利用率下降,XY335各参数的下降幅度小于SD902;轻度干旱下Pn光响应拟合参数品种间差异最大,严重干旱下rETR光响应拟合参数差异最大。综上表明,水分胁迫导致玉米叶片对强光的敏感性增加,干旱和光抑制对光系统Ⅱ造成的叠加伤害随干旱加重和品种抗旱性弱而加剧,是制约光合作用的主要原因;旱区强光下的玉米幼苗应及时补水,以避免严重干旱和高光强的叠加伤害。     

遮阴对堇叶紫金牛光合特性和叶绿素荧光参数的影响

堇叶紫金牛是一种特产于浙江和台湾的珍稀濒危植物.为了解堇叶紫金牛对光的需求及适应规律,本文研究了不同光照强度(遮阴率90%、60%、25%及全光照)对其光合特性和叶绿素荧光参数的影响.结果表明： 全光照条件下堇叶紫金牛净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(g_s)日变化曲线均呈“双峰型”,出现光合“午休现象”,而遮阴处理下均呈“单峰型”.随遮阴率的增加,堇叶紫金牛叶片P_n和表观量子效率(AQY)均呈先升高后降低的趋势,光饱和点(LSP)和光补偿点(LCP)均呈降低趋势,g_s、蒸腾速率(T_r)、原初光能转换率(F_v/F_m)和PSⅡ潜在活性(F_v/F_o)均呈升高趋势.遮阴造成叶绿素总量、类胡萝卜素(Car)含量的增加和Chl a/b的降低.遮阴率25%条件下,堇叶紫金牛根冠比(R/T)和比叶重(LMA)均达到最大值.堇叶紫金牛对不同光环境表现出较强的适应性和可塑性,表明光照不足不是其野外种群致濒的主要原因.     

UV-B对两种藻光合色素和多糖含量的影响

本文研究了微绿球藻(Nanochloropsis sp.)和海洋原甲藻(Prorocentrum micans)在不同辐射强度的UV-B照射下的光合色素和多糖含量的变化,结果表明微绿球藻比原甲藻有更强的抗紫外辐射能力.它的叶绿素a含量在UV照射下保持相对稳定,而原甲藻的叶绿素a含量明显下降.同时发现微绿球藻中的类胡萝卜素含量有十分显著的上升,由于类胡萝卜素具有保护功能,因此它很可能保护了叶绿素a免遭破坏,从而在微绿球藻的抗紫外辐射中起到重要作用.另外,紫外处理也促进了微绿球藻中多糖含量的升高,这也有利于提高它的抗UV能力,多糖可能作为一种保护机制,对保护藻类防止UV伤害方面有一定功能.原甲藻则因为这些机能较弱,对UV的抗性较低.     

紫细菌光合色素指纹图谱的建立与色素分析

【目的】探索快速高效的色素样品制备方法;为建立紫细菌全色素TLC和HPLC标准指纹图谱和数据库提供研究方法和思路;为色素代谢与调控等研究提供快速的色素分析方法。【方法】选择沼泽红假单胞菌(Rhodopesudomonas palustris CQV97)为材料,采用改良丙酮甲醇提取法、TLC重复展层法、图像灰度分析法、吸收光谱法、HPLC和MS法进行色素分析。【结果】甲醇或丙酮可选择性地提取样品的细菌叶绿素和类胡萝卜素,通过对丙酮甲醇法的改良,使色素提取总量提高了13.5%。建立了CQV97菌株全色素的TLC和HPLC指纹图谱,二者均含有11种色素组分。图像灰度分析法估算了TLC指纹图谱各色素组分的表观相对含量。以TLC图谱的各色素组分为外标物,明确了HPLC图谱中各色素组分的保留时间(Rt)与TLC图谱中各色素组分的迁移率(Rf)之间的对应关系。结合色素代谢途径、光谱分析和MS,定性分析了指纹图谱中11种色素组分。TLC或HPLC分析结果表明,理论样品与对照样品色素组分和含量一致,而实际样品与对照样品色素组分一致,但含量不同,重复测定3次,样品中色素相对含量的RSD均小于5%。【结论】改良的丙酮甲醇法可以快速高效地提取光合细菌的色素。采用TLC重复展层法和HPLC法建立的全色素指纹图谱色素组成一致,重复稳定性好,各具特色。TLC和HPLC两种指纹图谱分析方法均能进行光合色素的快速分析,适合于紫细菌色素合成途径中主要积累色素的组分和含量变化规律研究。     

山豆根叶片光合特性对光强和干旱的响应

山豆根（Euchresta japonica）为我国Ⅱ级重点保护野生植物。该研究通过设置不同遮阴网的层数和采用不同浓度的聚乙二醇溶液浇灌,探讨了山豆根光合特性对光强和干旱的响应。结果表明,山豆根叶片的饱和光强为683.06～907.07μmol/（m²·s）;单层遮阴处理叶片的最大电子传递速率和最大净光合速率整体高于双层遮阴处理,其中单层遮阴且未进行干旱处理的叶片最大电子传递速率和最大净光合速率最高,分别为55.36和6.73μmol/（m²·s）;相同遮阴条件下,叶片的最大净光合速率及其对应的饱和光强均随干旱程度增加整体呈下降趋势;单层遮阴条件下的蒸腾速率和水分利用效率均整体高于双层遮阴条件下的。不同处理下叶片光系统Ⅱ的实际光化学效率、光化学猝灭系数以及非光化学猝灭系数等整体上均无显著差异（P>0.05）。山豆根属半阳生植物,其叶片利用弱光能力较强,植株具有较强的耐干旱能力。因此,建议在开展野外回归、迁地保护、人工栽培等工作时,进行适当遮阴处理并保持充足的土壤含水量。     

沙质草地3种优势植物叶片光合生理对增温和降水减少的响应

以沙质草地优势物种猪毛蒿、胡枝子和糙隐子草为研究对象,利用开顶式生长室(OTC)模拟增温,研究降水减少20%、40%和60%与增温的交互作用对3种典型植物叶片光合气体交换特征及叶绿素荧光特征的影响,以揭示沙质草地3种优势植物对气候变化的响应规律。结果显示:(1)与自然温度相比,OTC模拟增温增加了猪毛蒿C_(i),显著降低了胡枝子G_(s)、P_(n)和T_(r)、糙隐子草G_(s)和P_(n)、猪毛蒿WUE和L_(s),也显著降低了猪毛蒿和胡枝子F_(v)/F_(m)和F_(v)/F_(o)。(2)无论增温与否,随着降水减少幅度的增加,猪毛蒿G_(s)和P_(n)呈下降趋势,且中度以上的干旱胁迫下(降水减少>40%)胡枝子和糙隐子草P_(n)显著低于对照。(3)在自然温度条件下,轻度干旱胁迫时(降水减少20%)猪毛蒿T_(r)显著低于对照,重度干旱胁迫时(降水减少60%)其WUE、F_(v)/F_(m)和F_(v)/F_(o)显著低于对照;重度干旱胁迫时,胡枝子C_(i)显著高于对照,差异幅度达10.7%,L_(s)显著低于对照,轻度干旱胁迫时(降水减少20%)其F_(v)/F_(m)和F_(v)/F_(o)显著高于中度以上的干旱胁迫;中度以上的干旱胁迫下糙隐子草T_(r)和G_(s)显著低于对照,重度干旱胁迫时,其C_(i)、F_(v)/F_(m)和F_(v)/F_(o)显著低于对照,WUE和L_(s)显著高于对照。(4)增温与降水减少交互作用下,所有处理猪毛蒿C_(i)均高于对照,差异幅度分别达4.5%,6.0%和8.4%;胡枝子T_(r)均显著低于对照,差异幅度达57.8%;重度干旱胁迫时猪毛蒿L_(s)和WUE显著低于对照,糙隐子草F_(v)/F_(m)和F_(v)/F_(o)随降水减少而降低,中度以上的干旱胁迫时其值显著低于对照。(5)相关性分析表明,3个优势物种的P_(n)与F_(v)/F_(m)和F_(v)/F_(o)均呈显著正相关关系,其中猪毛蒿和糙隐子草的P_(n)—F_(v)/F_(m)和P_(n)—F_(v)/F_(o)斜率明显高于胡枝子。研究表明,气候变暖会在一定程度上加剧降水减少对沙质草地3种群落优势物种光合作用的抑制。     

臭氧浓度升高对香樟叶片光合色素及抗过氧化的影响及其氮素响应

为阐明氮(N)沉降条件下我国亚热带典型常绿树种香樟(Cinnamomum camphora)的臭氧(O3)胁迫响应特征,以1年生幼苗为试验对象,采用开顶气室(OTC)进行模拟研究。O3处理设大气O3(AA)、大气O3+60 nmol/mol(AA+60)、大气O3+120nmol/mol(AA+120)3个水平;N素以硝酸铵(NH4NO3)溶液形式施加,施N量设0(N0)、30(N30)、60(N60)(kg.hm-.2a-1)3个水平。主要考察了叶片膜质过氧化、光合色素、胞质抗坏血酸含量及总抗氧化能力的胁迫响应特征。结果表明:一个生长季(2009年5月15日—2009年9月10日)高浓度O3处理导致试验幼苗叶肉细胞膜脂过氧化程度显著加剧,叶绿素a、叶绿素b、类胡萝卜素含量显著降低;N素施加显著提高了叶绿素含量,但未改变细胞膜脂过氧化水平。叶片总抗氧化能力在AA+120处理下显著提高,但未受N施加影响。还原型抗坏血酸含量在N0处理下随O3浓度升高而降低;在N30及N60处理下随O3浓度升高而增高。施N可通过提高叶片抗坏血酸含量来增强香樟对O3升高的适应能力。研究结论可为O3与N复合污染下,我国亚热带地区典型常绿树种的保护提供科学参考。     

pH dependent chlorophyll fluorescence quenching in spinach thylakoids from light treated or dark adapted leaves

The pH dependence of maximum chlorophyll fluorescence yield (F_m) was examined in spinach thylakoids in the presence of nigericin to dissipate the transthylakoid pH gradient. 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) was present to eliminate photochemical quenching. Thylakoids were prepared from dark adapted leaves (dark thylakoids) or preilluminated leaves (light thylakoids). In the latter there had been approximately 50% conversion of the xanthophyll violaxanthin to zeaxanthin, while no conversion had occurred in the former. In the presence of a reductant such as ascorbate, antimycin A sensitive quenching was observed (half maximal quenching at 5 M), whose pH dependence differed between the two types of thylakoid. Preillumination of leaves resulted in more quenching at pH values where very little quenching was observed in dark thylakoids (pH 5–7.6). This was similar to activation of high-energy-state quenching (qE) observed previously (Rees D, Young A, Noctor G, Britton G and Horton P (1989) FEBS Lett 256: 85–90). Thylakoids isolated from preilluminated DTT treated leaves, that contained no zeaxanthin, behaved like dark thylakoids. A second form of quenching was observed in the presence of ferricyanide, that could be reversed by the addition of ascorbate. This was not antimycin A sensitive and showed the same pH dependence in both types of thylakoid. The former type of quenching, but not the latter, showed similar low temperature fluorescence emission spectra to qE, and was considered to occur by the same mechanism.Abbreviations DCMU 3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea - DTT dithiothreitol - EDTA Ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid - F₀ dark level fluorescence yield - F_m maximum fluorescence yield - F_v/F_m ratio of variable to total fluorescence yield - Hepes 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)1-piperazineethanesul-phonic acid - Mes 2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfonate - pH transthylakoid pH gradient - PS I Photosystem I - PS II Photosystem II - Q_A primary stable electron acceptor of Photosystem II - qE high-energy-state fluorescence quenching     

Chlorobium Tepidum: Insights into the Structure,Physiology, and Metabolism of a Green Sulfur Bacterium Derived from the Complete Genome Sequence

Green sulfur bacteria are obligate, anaerobic photolithoautotrophs that synthesize unique bacteriochlorophylls (BChls) and a unique light-harvesting antenna structure, the chlorosome. One organism, Chlorobium tepidum, has emerged as a model for this group of bacteria primarily due to its relative ease of cultivation and natural transformability. This review focuses on insights into the physiology and biochemistry of the green sulfur bacteria that have been derived from the recently completed analysis of the 2.15-Mb genome of Chl. tepidum. About 40 mutants of Chl. tepidum have been generated within the last 3 years, most of which have been made based on analyses of the genome. This has allowed a nearly complete elucidation of the biosynthetic pathways for the carotenoids and BChls in Chl. tepidum, which include several novel enzymes specific for BChl c biosynthesis. Facilitating these analyses, both BChl c and carotenoid biosynthesis can be completely eliminated in Chl. tepidum. Based particularly on analyses of mutants lacking chlorosome proteins and BChl c, progress has also been made in understanding the structure and biogenesis of chlorosomes. In silico analyses of the presence and absence of genes encoding components involved in electron transfer reactions and carbon assimilation have additionally revealed some of the potential physiological capabilities, limitations, and peculiarities of Chl. tepidum. Surprisingly, some structural components and biosynthetic pathways associated with photosynthesis and energy metabolism in Chl. tepidum are more similar to those in cyanobacteria and plants than to those in other groups of photosynthetic bacteria.     

Structure and Function of the Water-Soluble Carotenoid-Binding Proteins of Cyanobacteria

The orange carotenoid protein (OCP) and its derivative, the red carotenoid protein (RCP), appear to play important photoprotective roles in cyanobacteria. Structural and functional characterization is gradually elucidating the specific details of how carotenoid-protein interactions, including the role of six methionine residues oriented toward the pigment, contribute to the spectral and functional properties of these proteins.     

Degradation of diatom chlorophyll to colourless,non-fluorescing compounds during copepoo grazing

During grazing of the copepodTemora longicornis onThalassiosira eccentrica phaeophorbide-a and several phaeophytins-a appeared in the culture vessels. However, a variable portion of the diatom's chlorophyll-a was degraded to substances that could not be detected either spectrophotometrically or fluorometrically. Chlorophyll-c and fucoxanthin were also lost during diatom cell transit throughTemora's gut. The variability between experiments in the destruction of chl.a to colourless residues is ascribed to differences in coprophagy and in transit time through the copepod gut, processes related to filtering rate and the ambient food concentration. Because the pigment loss is variable, grazing pressure cannot be estimated by simply recording bulk phaeopigment concentrations. The net result of the appearance of a fucoxanthinol-like pigment while all other pigments disappeared is a gradual carotenoid enrichment of the samples during grazing.     

Morphophysiological,ultrastructural, and nutritional changes induced by Cu toxicity in young Erythrina fusca plants

Erythrina fusca is an important legume used for shade cover in cacao plantations in Brazil. Cacao plantations receive large quantities of copper (Cu)-containing agrochemicals, mainly for control of diseases. Therefore, Cu toxicity was investigated in seedlings grown in hydroponics with increasing concentrations of Cu (0.005–32 mg L^?1) in a greenhouse. Ultrastructural analyses showed cell plasmolysis in the root cortical area and changes in thylakoid membranes at 8 mg Cu L^?1 and higher. There were changes in epicuticular wax deposition on the leaf surface at the 16 and 32 mg Cu L^?1 treatments. Leaf gas exchanges were highly affected 24 hours after application of treatments beginning at 8 mg Cu L^?1 and higher Cu concentrations. Chemical analyses showed that Cu content in E. fusca roots increased as Cu concentration in the nutrient solution increased, whereas the shoot did not show significant changes. It is also observed that excess Cu interfered with Zn, Fe, Mn, Mg, K, P, and Ca content in the different E. fusca organs. Investigation of Cu toxicity symptoms focusing on morphophysiological, ultrastructural, gas exchange, and nutritional changes would be useful to alleviate Cu toxicity in E. fusca under field conditions, an important agroforestry species in cacao plantation.     

Morpho‐anatomical and physiological differences between sun and shade leaves in Abies alba Mill. (Pinaceae,Coniferales): a combined approach

Morphology, anatomy and physiology of sun and shade leaves of Abies alba were investigated and major differences were identified, such as sun leaves being larger, containing a hypodermis and palisade parenchyma as well as possessing more stomata, while shade leaves exhibit a distinct leaf dimorphism. The large size of sun leaves and their arrangement crowded on the upper side of a plagiotropic shoot leads to self‐shading which is explainable as protection from high solar radiation and to reduce the transpiration via the lamina. Sun leaves furthermore contain a higher xanthophyll cycle pigment amount and Non‐Photochemical Quenching (NPQ) capacity, a lower amount of chlorophyll b and a total lower chlorophyll amount per leaf, as well as an increased electron transport rate and an increased photosynthesis light saturation intensity. However, sun leaves switch on their NPQ capacity at rather low light intensities, as exemplified by several parameters newly measured for conifers. Our holistic approach extends previous findings about sun and shade leaves in conifers and demonstrates that both leaf types of A. alba show structural and physiological remarkable similarities to their respective counterparts in angiosperms, but also possess unique characteristics allowing them to cope efficiently with their environmental constraints.     

The golden age of biochemical research in photosynthesis

The perspectives and enthusiasms recorded in this review describe the events I witnessed and, in small ways, contributed to. Two great rewards emerged from my experiences – the pleasure of doing experiments and the great wealth of friendships with students and colleagues. As a graduate student, phenomena appeared at the bench before me which clarified the coupling of electron transport to ATP synthesis. My first PhD graduate student measured concentrations of pyridine nucleotides in chloroplasts and his results have been often confirmed and well used. All of the many graduate students who followed contributed to our understanding of photosynthesis. I have taken much pleasure from documenting the details of photosynthetic phosphorylation and electron transport in cyanobacteria. Studies of the `c' type cytochromes in these organisms continue to fascinate me. My experiences in government in its efforts to promote research are unusual, perhaps unique. A rare event outside the laboratory – a natural bloom of cyanobacteria – stimulated new thoughts and special opportunities for laboratory science. Photosynthesis seems magisterial in its shaping of our planet and its biology and in the details of its cleverness that were revealed in the time of my witness. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Adaptation to shade of the light-harvesting apparatus in Silene dioica

Abstract. The physiological characteristics and photo-system composition of the photosynthetic apparatus of Silene dioica , a woodland plant, grown in sun and natural shade are examined. As expected, shade leaves exhibited lower chlorophyll a/b ratios, light saturated rates of CO₂ assimilation (A_sat), dark respiration (R_d,) and light compensation points ( Г ), with both sun and shade leaves having similar absorptances and quantum yields of CO₂ assimilation (φ). Shade leaves were able to utilize far-red light for electron transport and carbon assimilation and reach the compensation point. Sun leaves in far-red light had a rate of carbon assimilation equivalent to their dark respiration rate. Chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics from leaves at 77 K together with analyses of thylakoid contents of photosystems (PS) I and II and the light-harvesting cholorphyll a/b protein complex associated with PSII (LHCII) demonstrated that the antenna size of PSII was similar in thylakoids of sun and shade leaves, but shade leaves contained ca. 20% more PSII and ca. 12% less PSI complexes. The increased PSII/PSI ratio in shade leaves accounted for their ability to achieve the compensation point in far-red light. An important feature of photosynethic shade adaptation in S. dioica is an increase in the PSII/PSI ratio and not an increase in the antenna size of PSII. The adaptive response of sun leaves when placed in a shade environment was rapid and had a half-time of ca. 18h.