NaCl胁迫加重强光胁迫下超大甜椒叶片的光系统Ⅱ和光系统Ⅰ的光抑制

快速叶绿素荧光动力学可以在无损情况下探知叶片光合机构的损伤程度,快速叶绿素荧光测定和分析技术(JIP-test)将测量值转化为多种具有生物学意义的参数,因而被广泛应用于植物光合机构对环境的响应机制研究.该文研究了超大甜椒(Capsicum annuum)幼苗在强光及不同NaCl浓度胁迫下的荧光响应情况.与单纯强光胁迫相比,NaCl胁迫引起了叶绿素荧光诱导曲线的明显改变,光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)光抑制加重,同时PSⅡ反应中心和受体侧受到明显影响,而且高NaCl浓度胁迫下PSⅡ供体侧受伤害明显,同时PSⅠ反应中心活性(P700+)在盐胁迫下明显降低.这些结果表明,NaCl胁迫会增强强光对超大甜椒光系统的光抑制,并且浓度越高抑制越明显,但对PSⅠ的抑制作用低于PSⅡ.高NaCl浓度胁迫易对PSⅡ供体侧造成破坏,且PSⅠ光抑制严重.     

强光下硫化氢通过促进光系统Ⅱ的活性来缓解水稻的光抑制

以水稻品种‘II优084’为材料,测定了强光胁迫下,水稻光合速率、叶绿素荧光快速诱导曲线(OJIP)以及O2ˉ·和H2O2在水稻叶片中积累的影响。结果表明强光胁迫下,水稻的净光合速率及气孔导度下降;光系统II(PSII)反应中心关闭的比例以及电子传递链中光系统II受体侧原初醌受体(QA)的还原程度增加;PSII反应中心电子传递的量子产额、能量以及传递到下游电子链的比率下降;光抑制下PSII的过剩能量向PSI的状态装换减少;自由基的产生增加。而施加作为硫化氢(H2S)供体的外源硫氢化钠(NaHS)后,上述影响PSII活性的指标的负变化被缓解,捕光天线复合体LHC通过在两个光系统之间的移动,来调节两个光系统的能量分配。强光下H2S处理能促进LHC离开PSII,与PSI结合,从而减少PSII分配的激发能,增加PSI分配的激发能,缓解了PSII的过度还原。以上结果表明外源H2S通过促进PSII的光合活性来缓解水稻光抑制伤害。     

短期生长环境光强骤增导致典型阴生植物三七光系统受损的机制

阴生植物突然暴露在强光下造成光损伤的情况时有发生, 但其对高光敏感的潜在机制尚不十分清楚。为阐明阴生植物无法在自然全光照环境下生存的相关机制, 该研究以典型阴生植物三七(Panax notoginseng)为材料, 将遮阴环境下(10%透光率)生长的植株转移到全日光环境下3天, 研究其相对叶绿素含量(SPAD值)、光合参数以及叶绿素荧光参数的变化。结果表明, 全光环境下三七光合日变化呈现“双峰”曲线特征, 且净光合速率在处理期间逐日降低。全日光下三七叶片SPAD值、水分利用率和光能利用率显著降低; 叶片光系统I (PSI)反应中心P700最大荧光信号、光系统II (PSII)电子传递速率、暗适应下PSII最大量子效率和光下PSII最大量子效率显著低于遮阴环境下的植株, 且至傍晚不能完全恢复。而参与调节性能量耗散的量子产量、PSI受体侧限制引起的非光化学量子产量、环式电子流则显著高于遮阴环境下的三七。此外, 生长环境光照强度骤增导致荧光诱导动力学曲线发生明显变化, 并显著升高了PSII供体侧和受体侧的荧光产量。当阴生植物三七突然暴露于全光环境下时, 强烈的光照会导致PSII供体侧的放氧复合体活性受损, 抑制受体侧的电子传递, 过度还原PSI的受体侧进而引发PSI光抑制。该研究结果揭示, 全日光导致的PSII不可逆损伤和PSI光抑制可能是典型阴生植物三七为什么不能在全日照光环境下存活的重要原因。     

强光下硫化氢通过促进光系统II的活性来缓解水稻的光抑制

以水稻品种‘II优084’为材料,测定了强光胁迫下,水稻光合速率、叶绿素荧光快速诱导曲线（OJIP）以及O2ˉ·和H2O2在水稻叶片中积累的影响。结果表明强光胁迫下,水稻的净光合速率及气孔导度下降;光系统II（PSII）反应中心关闭的比例以及电子传递链中光系统II受体侧原初醌受体（QA）的还原程度增加;PSII反应中心电子传递的量子产额、能量以及传递到下游电子链的比率下降;光抑制下PSII的过剩能量向PSI的状态装换减少;自由基的产生增加。而施加作为硫化氢（H2S）供体的外源硫氢化钠（NaHS）后,上述影响PSII活性的指标的负变化被缓解,捕光天线复合体LHC通过在两个光系统之间的移动,来调节两个光系统的能量分配。强光下H2S处理能促进LHC离开PSII,与PSI结合,从而减少PSII分配的激发能,增加PSI分配的激发能,缓解了PSII的过度还原。以上结果表明外源H2S通过促进PSII的光合活性来缓解水稻光抑制伤害。     

铅胁迫对玉米幼苗叶片光系统功能及光合作用的影响

通过同时测定玉米叶片的叶绿素荧光快速诱导动力学曲线和对820 nm光的吸收、分析叶片的气体交换过程以及叶绿体活性氧清除关键酶的活性,研究了不同浓度的铅(Pb)胁迫对玉米光系统Ⅰ(PSⅠ)、光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)的光化学活性和光合作用的影响,并分析了Pb胁迫下两个光系统的相互关系.结果表明:铅胁迫显著抑制了玉米地上部分和地下部分的生长、降低了叶片光合色素含量、并通过非气孔因素限制了光合作用、导致过剩激发能的增加;铅胁迫显著抑制了超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)的活性、伤害了PSII反应中心、PSII的受体侧和供体侧(放氧复合体)以及PSI光化学活性.     

NaCl胁迫增强杂交酸模(Rumex K-1)幼苗叶片的米勒过氧化反应

200 mmol/L NaCl胁迫对杂交酸模(Rumex K-1)幼苗叶片光系统Ⅱ最大光化学效率(Fy/Fm)没有影响,但是显著降低了光合速率和气孔导度,导致细胞间隙CO2浓度和叶绿素含量增加.同时,盐胁迫引起活性氧清除关键酶超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性上升.在光合作用诱导过程中,无论是对照叶片还是盐胁迫叶片,米勒过氧化反应均维持一部分光合电子流.光合作用达到稳定状态后,盐胁迫叶片仍能够通过米勒过氧化反应维持部分光合电子流.强光下,低氧(2%)抑制米勒过氧化反应对对照叶片光抑制程度没有明显影响,而显著增加盐胁迫叶片的光抑制程度.据上述结果推测:盐胁迫下米勒过氧化反应的增强有助于消耗过剩的激发电子,从而降低强光下杂交酸模幼苗叶片的光抑制程度.     

光胁迫下杂种杨无性系光合生理生态特征的研究

以气体交换测定结合合绿素荧光技术对几个杂种杨新无性系有自然光胁迫下的光合生理生态特性进行了分析。８月ＣＯ２气体交换测定显示,中午存在明显的光合作用下降现象,同时某些无性系午的气孔导度也有不同程度下降。叶绿素荧光分析显示,强光胁迫会影响光合作用的原初光反应过程,光系统Ⅱ（ＰＳⅡ）反应中心的最大光化学量子产率,有效光化学量子产率等反光系统Ⅱ反应中心活性的参数值在中午均比早晨低,与此同时,光系统Ⅱ反应中     

光胁迫下杂种杨无性系光合生理生态特性的研究

以气体交换测定结合叶绿素荧光技术对几个杂种杨新无性系在自然光胁迫下的光合生理生态特性进行分析。８月ＣＯ２气体交换测定显示,中午存在明显的光合作用下降现象,同时某些无性系中午的气孔导度也有不同程度下降。叶绿素荧光分析显示,强光胁迫会影响光合作用的原初光化学反应过程,光系统Ⅱ（ＰＳＩＩ）反应中心的最大光化学量子产率,有效光化学量子产率等反映光系统Ⅱ反应中心活性的参数值在中午均比早晨低。与此同时,光系统Ⅱ反应中心的非光化学淬灭上升,他是光系统Ⅱ反应中心的一种自我保护机制。参数（Ｆｍ－Ｆｍｒ）／Ｆｍｒ、１—ｑｐ／ｑＮ和（Ｆ’ｍ－Ｆ）／Ｆ’ｍ可以反映各个无性系发生光抑制的可能性大小。由此计算出的各无性系发生光抑制的可能性排列次序与气体交换法测定的结果是一致的。     

葛仙米光合活性对盐胁迫的反应

收集人工条件下培养的葛仙米球形群体,以不同浓度的NaCl溶液处理,当浓度超过0.2mol/L后,叶绿素a荧光的可变部分(Fv)与最大荧光(Fm)之比值(Fv/Fm)与NaCl浓度呈负相关,光合放氧速率也随着NaCl浓度升高而降低。这两者随氯化钠浓度升高而降低的趋势均呈现出两个阶段性:低NaCl浓度时的缓慢降低阶段和高NaCl浓度时的快速降低阶段。Fv/Fm比值的转折点在0.2mol/L,而光合放氧速率的在0.4mol/L,后者与海水的浓度接近。呼吸作用几乎不受NaCl的影响。光系统I(PSI)和光系统II(PSII)活性随着NaCl浓度的提高均有降低。     

环境强光诱导玉簪叶片光抑制的机制

为进一步阐述光抑制的强光诱导和发生机制, 该文以喜阴植物玉簪(Hosta spp.)为材料研究其光抑制发生规律及其与环境光强的关系。结果表明, 全日照和遮阴条件下玉簪叶片发育分别形成适应强光和弱光的形态特征; 与遮阴处理相比, 强光下生长的玉簪光合速率和叶绿素含量较低, 但两种处理叶片最大光化学效率差异很小, 证明强光下植株可以正常生长且光合机构未发生严重的光抑制。将遮阴处生长的植株转移到全日照下, 光合速率和最大光化学效率急剧下降; 荧光诱导动力学曲线发生明显改变, 而且光系统II供体侧和受体侧荧光产量的变化幅度分别达到24.3%和34.2%, 表明玉簪由弱光转入强光后光系统II发生不可逆失活, 且受体侧受到的伤害较供体侧更严重。因此, 作者认为环境光强骤然提高并超过玉簪生长光强时很容易诱导其光合机构发生严重的光抑制。该研究对于理解植物适应光环境的策略以及喜阴植物的优质栽培有重要意义。     

氮调控对盐环境下甜菜功能叶光系统Ⅱ荧光特性的影响

采用盆栽试验方法,以NaCl为盐分模拟不同盐度环境,研究了施氮(N)对盐环境下生长的甜菜(Beta vulgaris)功能叶光系统Ⅱ (PSⅡ)荧光特性的影响及光合色素含量的变化.结果表明:在轻度、中度及重度盐环境下,施N均能增大PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ潜在活性(Fv/Fo)、PSⅡ实际光量子产量(Y(Ⅱ))、非调节性能量耗散的量子产量(Y(NO))、相对电子传递速率(ETR)及光化学猝灭系数(qp),且在适宜的施N范围内(0-1.2 g·kg-1)上述参数随施N量的增加而增大.各叶绿素荧光参数光响应的结果表明,随着光强的增加,各处理下调节性能量耗散的量子产量(KNPQ))、ETR及非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)旱上升趋势,相反,Y(Ⅱ)、Y(NO)及qp则呈下降趋势,在有效的光强范围内(0-1 000 μmol·m-2·s-1)施N提高了甜菜功能叶PSⅡ反应中心的开放程度,并且在高光强下调节PSⅡ耗散掉过剩的光能以避免对其反应中心造成伤害.各盐度环境下施N也显著增加了甜菜功能叶叶绿素与类胡萝卜素含量,增大了叶绿素a/叶绿素b值,且叶绿素与类胡萝卜素含量随施N水平的增加而增加.说明盐环境下施N能够增强甜菜功能叶PSⅡ的活性,提高PSⅡ光能利用率,从而增强其对盐渍环境的适应性.     

Response of the Photosynthetic Apparatus in Dunaliella salina (Green Algae) to Irradiance Stress

The response of the photosynthetic apparatus in the green alga Dunaliella salina, to irradiance stress was investigated. Cells were grown under physiological conditions at 500 millimoles per square meter per second (control) and under irradiance-stress conditions at 1700 millimoles per square meter per second incident intensity (high light, HL). In control cells, the light-harvesting antenna of photosystem I (PSI) contained 210 chlorophyll a/b molecules. It was reduced to 105 chlorophyll a/b in HL-grown cells. In control cells, the dominant form of photosystem II (PSII) was PSII_α(about 63% of the total PSII) containing >250 chlorophyll a/b molecules. The smaller antenna size PSII_β centers (about 37% of PSII) contained 135 ± 10 chlorophyll a/b molecules. In sharp contrast, the dominant form of PSII in HL-grown cells accounted for about 95% of all PSII centers and had an antenna size of only about 60 chlorophyll a molecules. This newly identified PSII unit is termed PSII_γ. The HL-grown cells showed a substantially elevated PSII/PSI stoichiometry ratio in their thylakoid membranes (PSII/PSI = 3.0/1.0) compared to that of control cells (PSII/PSI = 1.4/1.0). The steady state irradiance stress created a chronic photoinhibition condition in which D. salina thylakoids accumulate an excess of photochemically inactive PSII units. These PSII units contain both the reaction center proteins and the core chlorophyll-protein antenna complex but cannot perform a photochemical charge separation. The results are discussed in terms of regulatory mechanism(s) in the plant cell whose function is to alleviate the adverse effect of irradiance stress.     

Contrasting patterns of photosynthetic acclimation to the light environment are dependent on the differential expression of the responses to altered irradiance and spectral quality

Chl, chlorophyll
Chl a/b, ratio of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b
Cyt f, cytochrome f
FR, far-red light
LFR, low irradiance, far-red enriched growth light
LHCII, light harvesting complex associated with PSII
LW, low irradiance, white growth light
MW, moderate irradiance, white growth light
PAR, photosynthetically active radiation
P_max, light and CO₂ saturated photosynthetic rate
PSI, photosystem I
PSII, photosystem II

Four plant species (Chamerion angustifolium, Digitalis purpurea, Brachypodium sylvaticum and Plantago lanceolata) which have previously been shown to demonstrate contrasting photosynthetic acclimatory responses to the light environment ( 33 , Plant, Cell and Environment 20, pp. 438–448) were analysed at a biochemical level. Plants were grown under low irradiance with a shade-type spectrum (LFR: 50μmol quanta m^–2 s^–1), moderately high white light (MW: 300μmol quanta m^–2 s^–1) and low irradiance white light (LW: 50μmol quanta m^–2 s^–1). The effects of light quality upon chlorophyll content and photosynthetic capacity were found to be species-dependent. A far-red dependent reduction in chlorophyll was found in three species, and an irradiance-dependent reduction was found in B. sylvaticum, which showed the greatest alteration in the xanthophyll cycle pool size of all species tested under these conditions. Chlorophyll a/b ratios were sensitive to both light quality and quantity in C. angustifolium and D. purpurea, being highest in MW, lowest in LFR, and intermediate in LW, whilst the other species showed no response. Ratios of photosystem II to photosystem I (PSII and PSI) demonstrated a strong irradiance-associated increase in all species except B. sylvaticum, whereas an increase in PSII/PSI in LFR compared to LW conditions was present in all species. A change in chlorophyll a/b was not always associated with a change in PSII/PSI, suggesting that the level of LHCII associated with each PSII varied in some species. Cytochrome f content showed an irradiance-dependent effect only, indicating a relationship with the capacity of electron transport. It is concluded that differing strategies of acclimation to the light environment demonstrated by these species results from differing strengths of expression of a series of independently regulated changes in the levels of photosynthetic components.     

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

Under 30-min high irradiance （1500μmol 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 PSll cross-section （TRo/CSo）, electron transport in a PSll 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 PSh 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.     

Photoinhibition of photosystem II under environmental stress

Inhibition of the activity of photosystem II (PSII) under strong light is referred to as photoinhibition. This phenomenon is due to an imbalance between the rate of photodamage to PSII and the rate of the repair of damaged PSII. In the “classical” scheme for the mechanism of photoinhibition, strong light induces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which directly inactivate the photochemical reaction center of PSII. By contrast, in a new scheme, we propose that photodamage is initiated by the direct effect of light on the oxygen-evolving complex and that ROS inhibit the repair of photodamaged PSII by suppressing primarily the synthesis of proteins de novo. The activity of PSII is restricted by a variety of environmental stresses. The effects of environmental stress on damage to and repair of PSII can be examined separately and it appears that environmental stresses, with the exception of strong light, act primarily by inhibiting the repair of PSII. Studies have demonstrated that repair-inhibitory stresses include CO₂ limitation, moderate heat, high concentrations of NaCl, and low temperature, each of which suppresses the synthesis of proteins de novo, which is required for the repair of PSII. We postulate that most types of environmental stress inhibit the fixation of CO₂ with the resultant generation of ROS, which, in turn, inhibit protein synthesis.     

The different effects of chilling stress under moderate light intensity on photosystem II compared with photosystem I and subsequent recovery in tropical tree species

Tropical plants are sensitive to chilling temperatures above zero but it is still unclear whether photosystem I (PSI) or photosystem II (PSII) of tropical plants is mainly affected by chilling temperatures. In this study, the effect of 4°C associated with various light densities on PSII and PSI was studied in the potted seedlings of four tropical evergreen tree species grown in an open field, Khaya ivorensis, Pometia tomentosa, Dalbergia odorifera, and Erythrophleum guineense. After 8 h chilling exposure at the different photosynthetic flux densities of 20, 50, 100, 150 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, the maximum quantum yield of PSII (F _v /F _m) in all of the four species decreased little, while the quantity of efficient PSI complex (P _m) remained stable in all species except E. guineense. However, after chilling exposure under 250 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ for 24 h, F _v /F _m was severely photoinhibited in all species whereas P _m was relative stable in all plants except E. guineense. At the chilling temperature of 4°C, electron transport from PSII to PSI was blocked because of excessive reduction of primary electron acceptor of PSII. F _v /F _m in these species except E. guineense recovered to ~90% after 8 h recovery in low light, suggesting the dependence of the recovery of PSII on moderate PSI and/or PSII activity. These results suggest that PSII is more sensitive to chilling temperature under the moderate light than PSI in tropical trees, and the photoinhibition of PSII and closure of PSII reaction centers can serve to protect PSI.     

The involvement of the photoinhibition of photosystem II and impaired membrane energization in the reduced quantum yield of carbon assimilation in chilled maize

In this study we investigated the basis for the reduction in the quantum yield of carbon assimilation in maize (Zea mays L. cv. LG11) caused by chilling in high light. After chilling attached maize leaves at 5° C for 6 h at high irradiance (1000 mol photons·m^–2·s^–1) chlorophyll fluorescence measurements indicated a serious effect on the efficiency of photochemical conversion by photosystem II (PSII) and measurements of [¹⁴C]atrazine binding showed that the plastoquinone binding site was altered in more than half of the PSII reaction centres. Although there were no direct effects of the chilling treatment on coupling-factor activity, ATP-formation capacity was affected because the photoinhibition of PSII led to a reduced capacity to energize the thylakoid membranes. In contrast to chilling at high irradiance, no photoinhibition of PSII accompanied the 20% decrease in the quantum yield of carbon assimilation when attached maize leaves were chilled in low light (50 mol photons·m^–2·s^–1). Thus it is clear that photoinhibition of PSII is not the sole cause of the light-dependent, chillinduced decrease in the quantum yield of carbon assimilation. During the recovery of photosynthesis from the chilling treatment it was observed that full [¹⁴C]atrazinebinding capacity and membrane-energization capacity recovered significantly more slowly than the quantum yield of carbon assimilation. Thus, not only is photoinhibition of PSII not the sole cause for the decreased quantum yield of carbon assimilation, apparently an appreciable population of photoinhibited PSII centres can be tolerated without any reduction in the quantum yield of carbon assimilation.Abbreviations and Symbols PPFD photosynthetically active photon flux density - PSII photosystem II - F_v/F_m ratio of variable to maximal fluorescence - quantum yield of carbon assimilation This work was supported in part by grants from the UK Agricultural and Food Research Council (AG 84/5) to N.R.B. and from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Competitive Research Grant 87-CRCR-1-2381) to D.R.O. G.Y.N. was the recipient of a British Council scholarship and N.R.B. received a fellowship from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (Project on Food Production and Preservation).     

田间条件下棉花幼叶光合特性及光保护机制

通过比较棉花(Gossypium hirsutum)幼叶和完全展开叶气体交换参数及叶绿素荧光特性的差异, 探讨高光强下幼叶的光抑制程度及明确光保护机制间的协调机理。在田间自然条件下, 以棉花刚展平的幼嫩叶片(幼叶)和面积已达到最大的完全展开叶片为研究对象, 通过测定不同发育阶段叶片气体交换参数及叶绿素a荧光参数的变化, 并运用Dual-PAM100对不同发育阶段的叶片进行快速光响应曲线的拟合。结果表明: 幼叶和完全展开叶片在光合、荧光特性方面表现出明显的差异。与完全展开叶相比, 较低的叶绿素(Chl)含量和气孔导度(G_s)是幼叶较低净光合速率(P_n)的限制因素, 从而直接导致其光系统II (PSII)实际光化学效率(Φ_PSII)和光化学猝灭系数(q_P)的降低。在1800 μmol·m^-2·s^-1光强以下, 完全展开叶具有较强的围绕PSI循环的电子流(CEF), 有利于合成ATP, 是其具有较高光合能力的原因之一。相同光强下, 幼叶较低的光饱和点(LSP)更易受光抑制, 但其PSII原初光化学效率(F_v/F_m)的日变化幅度显著小于完全展开叶, 说明强光下幼叶通过类胡萝卜素(Car)猝灭单线态氧、光呼吸(P_r)、热耗散(NPQ)以及PSI-CEF等光保护机制能有效地耗散过剩的光能, 从而避免其光合机构发生光抑制。     

The site of photoinhibition in leaves of Cucumis sativus L. at low temperatures is photosystem I,not photosystem II

Maximum quantum yields (QY) of photosynthetic electron flows through PSI and PSII were separately assessed in thylakoid membranes isolated from leaves of Cucumis sativus L. (cucumber) that had been chilled in various ways. The QY(PSI) in the thylakoids prepared from the leaves treated at 4° C in moderate light at 220 mol quanta·m^–2·s^–1 (400–700 nm) for 5 h, was about 20–30% of that in the thylakoids prepared from untreated leaves, while QY(PSII) decreased, at most, by 20% in response to the same treatment. The decrease in QY(PSI) was observed only when the leaves were chilled at temperatures below 10° C, while such a marked temperature dependency was not observed for the decrease in QY(PSII). In the chilling treatment at 4° C for 5 h, the quantum flux density that was required to induce 50% loss of QY (PSI) was ca. 50 umol quanta·m^–2·s^–1. When the chilling treatment at 4° C in the light was conducted in an atmosphere of N₂, photoinhibition of PSI was largely suppressed, while the damage to PSII was somewhat enhanced. The ferricyanide-oxidised minus ascorbate-reduced difference spectra and the light-induced absorbance changes at 700 nm obtained with the thylakoid suspension, indicated the loss of P700 to extents that corresponded to the decreases in QY(PSI). Accordingly, the decreases in QY(PSI) can largely be attributed to destruction of the PSI reaction centre itself. These results clearly show that, at least in cucumber, a typical chillingsensitive plant, PSI is much more susceptible to aerobic photoinhibition than PSII.Abbreviations DCMU 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea - P700 primary electron donor of PSI - PPFD photosynthetically active photon flux density - QY quantum yield We are grateful to invaluable comments by Prof. S. Katoh, K. Hikosaka and the members of our laboratory. We also thank A. Aoyama for technical assistance. This work was partly supported by the grants from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture, Japan, to I. Terashima (#03740342 and #04640621).