持续低温弱光对黄瓜叶片气体交换、叶绿素荧光猝灭和吸收光能分配的影响

持续常温弱光(25℃/18℃,l00umol m-2 s-1)、低温弱光(12℃/12℃,100 umol m-2 s-1和7℃/7℃,l00μmolm-2s-1)均导致黄瓜生长减慢或停滞、叶绿素含量、气孔导度和净光合速率、光合电子传递速率下降以及胞间CO2浓度上升.常温弱光和12℃弱光处理对光系统II的最大光化学效率Fv/Fm无显著影响,而7℃弱光处理导致Fv/Fm的可逆性下降.常温弱光和7℃、12℃弱光处理均导致了光化学反应速率的降低以及天线热耗散和反应中心过剩能量的增加.在胁迫后,12℃弱光0比7℃弱光更有利于植株光合功能的恢复.     

不同胁迫处理对刺栲叶片叶绿素a荧光的影响

探讨了光强、温度和水分胁迫对刺栲(Castanopsis hystrix)体叶片叶绿素a荧光特征的影响,由此了解它的基本生物学特性。结果表明:(1)强光(1 300μmol.m-2.s-1左右)未胁迫时下降6.1%,表现轻微光抑制;(2)黑暗下低温(4℃,72 h)处理后电子传递速率下降较少(21.1%),初始荧光Fo保持稳定;与25℃对照相比,Fv/Fo和Fv/Fm无显著变化,表明黑暗下零上低温对PSⅡ潜在活性及光化学效率影响较小;(3)高温(40℃)胁迫显著影响了PSⅡ反应中心活性,ETR,Fv/Fm和Fv/Fo下降在处理2 h后达到极显著水平(p<0.01),Fo上升在处理4 h后也达到显著水平(p<0.05);(4)PEG诱导的水分胁迫严重影响了其光合机构活性,表现在无论与处理前比较、还是与耐旱种降真香(Acronychia pedunculata)的比较,其Fo上升和Fv/Fm、Fv/Fo下降都达到显著水平,表明其不耐干旱。     

遮光对不同基因型玉米光合特性的影响

采用盆栽试验,研究了遮光对4个基因型玉米光合特性的影响.结果表明:4个基因型玉米叶片的光饱和点、净光合速率(Pn)、电子传递速率(ETR)、光系统Ⅱ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)和实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)均受光强的影响.遮光降低了玉米的光饱和点,苗期遮光处理豫玉2号和丹玉13分别在光量子通量密度(PFD)为1400μmol·m-2·s-1和1100μmol·m-2·s-1时达到饱和.遮光还降低了玉米的Pn、ETR、Fv/Fm和ΦPSⅡ,但不同基因型玉米表现不同,豫玉2号和掖单22的下降幅度较小,而丹玉13和掖单6号的下降幅度较大.     

低温弱光对辣椒幼苗光合特性与光合作用启动时间的影响

以辣椒(Capsicum annuumL.)幼苗为试材,研究了偏低温弱光(19℃/12℃昼/夜,90μmol?m-2?s-1)和临界低温弱光(15℃/8℃昼/夜,90μmol?m-2?s-1)胁迫10 d后的光合特性与光合作用启动时间的变化.结果表明:无论是在偏低温弱光还是在临界低温弱光下,辣椒幼苗的光补偿点(LCP)、光饱和点(LSP)、光饱和时的光合速率(Amax)和表观量子产额(AOY)下降;CO2补偿点(CCP)升高,而CO2饱和点(CSP)、CO2饱和时的光合速率(Amax)以及羧化效率(CE)下降;温度补偿点(TCP)降低;光合作用启动时间(STP)延长.在偏低温弱光下,辣椒幼苗有着更高的光与CO2利用能力和利用效率,光合作用启动时间较短,但温度补偿点较高.     

低温胁迫下不同甘蔗品种(系)光合特性的变化及其与耐寒性的关系

以广西农科院甘蔗研究所自育的7个新材料和2个生产上的主栽品种为研究对象,在甘蔗苗期进行低温胁迫处理,研究了各品种(系)甘蔗形态特征的冷害指数、叶绿素含量及光合特性相关指标的变化及其光合特性相关指标与甘蔗抗寒性间的相关性。结果表明:随着低温胁迫处理时间的延长,冷害指数不断增大,但变化的大小与快慢因品种(系)不同表现不一样。各甘蔗品种(系)叶片叶绿素含量均随时间延长而降低。叶片净光合速率、气孔导度在低温处理与常温处理间具有显著差异。低温胁迫处理显著降低了各甘蔗品种(系)最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ实际光能转化效率ΦPSⅡ、光适应下PSⅡ反应中心的最大光能转化效率Fv′/Fm′、光化学猝灭系数qP、电子传递速率ETR,而显著提高了初始荧光Fo、稳态荧光Fs、非光化学猝灭系数qNP。相关性分析表明整个测定时期各指标间相关显著,Fv/Fm、Fv′/Fm′、ΦPSⅡ与冷害指数I之间的相关系数在0.800以上,Fv/Fm、Fv′/Fm′、ΦPSⅡ可以作为甘蔗品种(系)抗寒性鉴定的重要参考指标。     

ALA对遮荫条件下西瓜幼苗强光抑制的保护效应

以遮荫生长的盆栽西瓜幼苗为材料,研究了100mg/L5-氨基乙酰丙酸(5-aminolevulinic acid,ALA)处理对暗适应叶片转入强光下叶绿素荧光特性的影响.结果显示,遮荫能显著提高暗适应叶片的Fo,降低Fv/Fm和Fv/Fo;正常光照下生长的植株叶片暗适应后转入1500μmol·m-2·s-1作用光强下5min的ΦPSⅡ、qP和Pc分别为0.176、0.399和0.180,约为600μmol·m-2·s-1作用光强下的62%、72%和64%;而遮荫下生长的幼苗叶片暗适应后转入1500μmol·m-2·s-1作用光强下的ΦPSⅡ、qP和Pc分别为0.089、0.301和0.089,仅为600μmol·m-2·s-1作用光强的40%、66%和40%;遮荫还显著降低西瓜叶片暗适应后转入强光1500μmol·m-2·s-1的PCR和qL,同时提高L(PFD).ALA处理能提高遮荫西瓜幼苗叶片PCR、Pc、qL和Hd等荧光参数,降低Ex、ΦNO和L(PFD);SOD活性抑制剂DDC处理降低PCR、Pc、qL和Hd等荧光参数,而ALA处理可以逆转DDC的抑制效应;ALA处理能提高西瓜幼苗叶片SOD、POD和APX活性.研究发现,遮荫导致西瓜幼苗光抑制程度加重,ALA通过增强PSⅠ附近SOD等抗氧化酶活性,促进水-水循环,增加热耗散,减轻光抑制,提高西瓜幼苗叶片的光化学效率,从而对强光下的光合作用起到保护作用.     

木棉叶片叶绿素荧光参数和SPAD值对干旱胁迫的响应

采用盆栽控水干旱法模拟干旱逆境,对1年生木棉(Bombax ceiba)盆栽苗进行不同程度的胁迫处理,测定干旱胁迫时其叶片叶绿素SPAD值和荧光参数动态变化。结果表明,干旱胁迫下,木棉叶片叶绿素相对含量逐渐降低;初始荧光(Fo)随着干旱程度的加剧而呈上升趋势,而最大荧光(Fm)、潜在光化学效率(Fv /Fo)、最大光化学效率(Fv /Fm)、光化学淬灭系数(qP)和表观光合电子传递速率(ETR)下降,在中度和重度干旱胁迫时差异显著(P＜0.05);非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ)变化不显著。干旱胁迫导致木棉植株出现光抑制,植株可通过降低光化学淬灭、增加热耗散的形式增强对干旱的适应能力。     

高温胁迫下不同光强对‘赤霞珠’葡萄PSII活性及恢复的影响

本文研究了高温与不同光强结合处理对‘赤霞珠’葡萄叶片PSII活性及恢复的影响。结果表明,高温黑暗处理（40℃,0μmaol·m-2．s-1）导致叶片PSII最大光化学效率（Fv/Fm）、反应中心吸收的光能用于电子传递的量子产额（ψEo）与单位反应中心光能的传递（ETo/RC）降低明显,且无恢复趋势,K点相对荧光（Vk）、单位反应中心光能的吸收（ABS／RC）与捕获（TRo／RC）显著升高。高温弱光处理（40℃,200μmol·m-2．s-1）后的叶片PSII活性明显恢复,ETo／RC降低明显,TRo/RC无显著变化。高温强光（40℃,1600μmol·m-2．S-1）处理导致单位面积有活性反应中心数量（RC/CSm）抑制程度最大,恢复程度较低。实验结果说明,高温处理下黑暗对葡萄PSII功能活性及恢复均会造成抑制,而弱光可以显著缓解高温对葡萄叶片的胁迫作用,并促进PSII的恢复,强光导致胁迫下的PSII功能抑制最明显。     

高温胁迫下苋菜的叶绿素荧光特性

为了探明高温胁迫对苋菜(Amaranthus tricolor L.)光合过程的影响,用不同温度(25、30、35、40、45℃)处理苋菜植株1h后,随即测定了其叶绿素荧光动力学参数和快速光响应曲线特征参数的变化.结果表明:40℃以上高温胁迫下,苋菜叶片的光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)潜在光化学效率(Fv/Fo)、最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)下降;最大荧光(Fm)、光合电子传递速率(ETR)、PSⅡ实际光化学效率(Yield)、光化学淬灭系数(qP)也均有所下降;而初始荧光(F.)和非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ)在40℃以上高温胁迫下显著上升.叶绿素荧光快速光响应曲线测定结果表明,初始斜率α、最大相对电子传递速率ETRmax和半饱和光强Ik在40℃以上高温胁迫下有所下降.研究表明,40℃以上高温胁迫对苋菜的光能的吸收、转换、光合电子传递和强光耐受能力等均有一定的影响.     

不同光强下氮素形态对番茄谷氨酰胺合成酶和光呼吸的影响

强光(800μmol·m-2·s-1)下供应铵态氮的番茄植株与供应硝态氮的相比,其生长受到显著抑制,谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)活性和光呼吸速率显著下降,同时净光合速率(Pn)和叶绿素荧光参数(Fv/Fm、Fv/F.)值下降;而弱光(200μmol·m-2·s-1)下供应铵态氮与硝态氮植株之间的这些参数差异不显著.     

高温胁迫对切花菊‘神马’光合作用与叶绿素荧光的影响

以切花菊品种‘神马’为试材,在40 ℃/35 ℃（昼/夜）与33 ℃/28 ℃高温下分别胁迫11 d,然后转入23 ℃/18 ℃恢复5 d,研究不同高温强度及恢复对菊花光合作用的影响.结果表明：33 ℃/28 ℃下净光合速率（P_n）逐渐降低,气孔导度（G_s）5 d后明显降低,两参数均可在23 ℃/18 ℃下恢复到对照的80%以上;40 ℃/35 ℃高温下P_n与G_s大幅度持续降低,胁迫前期,胞间CO₂浓度（C_i）上升,P_n的降低主要由非气孔因素导致;9 d后C_i与P_n同时降低,气孔限制成为P_n 降低的主要因素.高温使菊花叶片的PSⅡ潜在活性（F_v/F_o）、最大光化效率（F_v/F_m）、实际光化效率（Φ_PSⅡ）与天线转换效率 （F_v′/F_m′）降低,天线热耗散（D）增加,表明高温胁迫下菊花通过降低光能的捕获与通过PSⅡ的电子传递效率来保护反应中心免受伤害.33 ℃/28 ℃下光化学猝灭系数（q_P）呈先下降后上升趋势,推测此温度下受体端电子传递首先受到抑制;40 ℃/35 ℃下q_P持续增加,表明放氧复合体(OEC)可能是菊花光合系统中极端高温伤害的原初位点.     

光强在低温弱光胁迫后番茄叶片光合作用恢复中的作用

为了研究光强在低温弱光胁迫后番茄叶片光合作用恢复中的作用,以番茄品种浙粉202为材料,研究了低温弱光后恢复期全光照与遮荫对光合作用和叶绿素荧光参数的影响。结果表明：低温弱光（8℃/12℃,PFD 80 μmol·m^-2·s^-1）导致番茄叶片P_n、Φ_PSⅡ、qP和F_v′/F_m′的下降,但诱导了NPQ的上升,未引起F_v/F_m的变化;全光照（100%光照）下恢复1 使得植株叶片P_n、F_v/F_m、Φ_PSⅡ、qP、NPQ和F_v′/F_m′均大幅下降,随后光合和荧光参数可缓慢恢复至对照水平;遮荫（40%光照）恢复植株F_v/F_m、Φ_PSⅡ和F_v′/F_m′仅在第一天稍有下降,而P_n和qP还略有上升,NPQ虽有所降低但仍显著高于对照水平,随后光合和荧光参数均可迅速恢复到对照水平。说明低温弱光虽抑制了光合作用的进行,但并未引起光抑制的发生;全光照恢复加剧了叶片光抑制的发生,而遮荫恢复可通过叶片PSⅡ光化学活性的快速恢复和天线色素热耗散能力的增强以保护光合机构免受伤害,有利于光合作用的迅速恢复。     

Chlorophyll fluorescence and photoinhibition in a tropical rainforest understory plant

The data presented here deal with the effects of high-light exposure on the 77 K fluorescence characteristics of Elatostema repens. It is shown that the decrease of the variable fluorescence during the treatment is biphasic. The reactions responsible for the first phase of fluorescence quenching are saturated under 700 mol photon m^-2 s^-1 and insensitive to streptomycin, whereas those responsible for the second phase are not yet saturated under 700 mol photon m^-2 s^-1 and sensitive to streptomycin. It is concluded that only the second phase of fluorescence quenching is associated with photoinhibitory processes. Rate and amplitude of recovery from photoinhibition are maximum under very low light (3.5 mol photon m^-2 s^-1), and very small at a moderate light (160 mol photon m^-2 s^-1) which does not cause photoinhibition. It is concluded that recovery processes are inhibited during photoinhibition. It is suggested that they could be associated with damage occuring on the oxidizing side of PSII.Abbreviations F_o, F_v, F_m initial, variable and maximum fluorescence, respectively - PFD photon flux density - PS II photosystem II     

Role of the xanthophyll cycle in photoprotection elucidated by measurements of light-induced absorbance changes,fluorescence and photosynthesis in leaves of Hedera canariensis

The role of the xanthophyll cycle in regulating the energy flow to the PS II reaction centers and therefore in photoprotection was studied by measurements of light-induced absorbance changes, Chl fluorescence, and photosynthetic O₂ evolution in sun and shade leaves of Hedera canariensis. The light-induced absorbance change at 510 nm (A₅₁₀) was used for continuous monitoring of zeaxanthin formation by de-epoxidation of violaxanthin. Non-radiative energy dissipation (NRD) was estimated from non-photochemical fluorescence quenching (NPQ).High capacity for zeaxanthin formation in sun leaves was accompanied by large NRD in the pigment bed at high PFDs as indicated by a very strong NPQ both when all PS II centers are closed (F'_m) and when all centers are open (F'_o). Such F_o quenching, although present, was less pronounced in shade leaves which have a much smaller xanthophyll cycle pool.Dithiothreitol (DTT) provided through the cut petiole completely blocked zeaxanthin formation. DTT had no detectable effect on photosynthetic O₂ evolution or the photochemical yield of PS II in the short term but fully inhibited the quenching of F_o and 75% of the quenching of F_m, indicating that NRD in the antenna was largely blocked. This inhibition of quenching was accompanied by an increased closure of the PS II reaction centers.In the presence of DTT a photoinhibitory treatment at a PFD of 200 mol m^-2 s^-1, followed by a 45 min recovery period at a low PFD, caused a 35% decrease in the photon yield of O₂ evolution, compared to a decrease of less than 5% in the absence of DTT. The F_v/F_m ratio, measured in darkness showed a much greater decrease in the presence than in the absence of DTT. In the presence of DTT F_o rose by 15–20% whereas no change was detected in control leaves.The results support the conclusion that the xanthophyll cycle has a central role in regulating the energy flow to the PS II reaction centers and also provide direct evidence that zeaxanthin protects against photoinhibitory injury to the photosynthetic system.Abbreviations F, F_m, F_o, F_v Fluorescence yield at actual degree of PS II center closure, when all centers are closed, when all centers are open, variable fluorescence - NPQ non-photochemical fluorescence quenching - NRD non-radiative energy dissipation - PFD photon flux density - Q_A primary acceptor PS II     

Analysis of xanthophyll cycle carotenoids and chlorophyll fluorescence in light intensity-dependent chlorophyll-deficient mutants of wheat and barley

Three light intensity-dependent Chl b-deficient mutants, two in wheat and one in barley, were analyzed for their xanthophyll cycle carotenoids and Chl fluorescence characteristics under two different growth PFDs (30 versus 600 mol photons·m^–2 s^–1 incident light). Mutants grown under low light possessed lower levels of total Chls and carotenoids per unit leaf area compared to wild type plants, but the relative proportions of the two did not vary markedly between strains. In contrast, mutants grown under high light had much lower levels of Chl, leading to markedly greater carotenoid to Chl ratios in the mutants when compared to wild type. Under low light conditions the carotenoids of the xanthophyll cycle comprised approximately 15% of the total carotenoids in all strains; under high light the xanthophyll cycle pool increased to over 30% of the total carotenoids in wild type plants and to over 50% of the total carotenoids in the three mutant strains. Whereas the xanthophyll cycle remained fairly epoxidized in all plants grown under low light, plants grown under high light exhibited a considerable degree of conversion of the xanthophyll cycle into antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin during the diurnal cycle, with almost complete conversion (over 90%) occurring only in the mutants. 50 to 95% of the xanthophyll cycle was retained as antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin overnight in these mutants which also exhibited sustained depressions in PS II photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m), which may have resulted from a sustained high level of photoprotective energy dissipation activity. The relatively larger xanthophyll cycle pool in the Chl b-deficient mutant could result in part from the reported concentration of the xanthophyll cycle in the inner antenna complexes, given that the Chl b-deficient mutants are deficient in the peripheral LHC-II complexes.Abbreviations A antheraxanthin - Chl chlorophyll - F_o and F_m minimal yield (at open PS II reaction centers) and maximal yield (at closed centers) of chlorophyll fluorescence in darkness - F level of fluorescence during illumination with photosynthetically active radiation - F_m maximal yield (at closed centers) of chlorophyll fluorescence during illumination with photosynthetically active radiation - (F_m–F)/F_m actual efficiency of PS II during illumination with photosynthetically active radiation - F_v/F_m+(F_m–F_o)/F_m intrinsic efficiency of PS II in darkness - LHC_II light-harvesting chlorophyll-protein complex of Photosystem II - PFD photon flux density (between 400 and 700 nm) - PS I Photosystem I - PS II Photosystem II - V violaxanthin - Z zeaxanthin     

Light dependency of the photosynthetic recovery of Nostoc flagelliforme

PS II photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m) of Nostoc flagelliforme was examined after rewetting in order to investigate the light-dependency of its photosynthetic recovery. F_v/F_m was not detected in the dark, but was immediately recognized in the light. Different levels of light irradiation (4, 40 and 400 μmol photon m² s^-1) displayed different effects on the recovery process of photosynthesis. The intermediate level led to the best recovery of photochemical efficiency; the low light required longer and the high light inhibited the extent of the recovered efficiency. It was concluded that the photosynthetic recovery of N. flagelliforme is both light-dependent and influenced by photon flux density. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Phosphorylation of PS II polypeptides inhibits D1 protein-degradation and increases PS II stability

To study the significance of Photosystem (PS) II phosphorylation for the turnover of the D1 protein, phosphorylation was compared with the synthesis and content of the D1 protein in intact chloroplasts. As shown by radioactive labelling with [³²P_i] phosphorylation of PS II polypeptides was saturated at light intensities of 125 mol m^-2 s^-1. Under steady state conditions, in intact chloroplasts D1 protein, once it was phosphorylated, was neither dephosphorylated nor degraded in the light. D1 protein-synthesis was measured as incorporation of [¹⁴C] leucine. As shown by non-denaturing gel-electrophoresis followed by SDS-PAGE newly synthesised D1 protein was assembled to intact PS II-centres and no free D1 protein could be detected. D1 protein-synthesis was saturated at light intensities of 500 mol m^-2 s^-1. The content of D1 protein stayed stable even after illumination with 5000 mol m^-2 s^-1 showing that D1 protein-degradation was saturated at the same light intensities. The difference in the light saturation points of phosphorylation and of D1 protein-turnover indicates a complex regulation of D1 protein-turnover by phosphorylation. Separation of the phosphorylated and dephosphorylated D1 protein by LiDS-gelelectrophoresis combined with radioactive pulse-labelling with [¹⁴C] leucine and [³²P_i] revealed that D1 protein, synthesised under steady state conditions in the light, did not become phosphorylated but instead was rapidly degraded whereas the phosphorylated form of the D1 protein was not a good substrate for degradation. According to these observations phosphorylation of the D1 protein creates a pool of PS II centres which is not involved in D1 to these observations phosphorylation of the D1 protein creates a pool of PS II centres which is not involved in D1 protein-turnover. Fractionation of thylakoid membranes confirms that the phosphorylated, non-turning over pool of PS II-centres was located in the central regions of the grana, whereas PS II-centres involved in D1 protein-turnover were found exclusively in the stroma-lamellae and in the grana-margins.Abbreviations chl chlorophyll - F_v yield of variable fluorescence, difference between F_m, the maximal fluorescence yield at saturating light, when all reaction-centres are closed, and F_o, the fluorescence yield in the dark, when all reaction-centres are open - LHC light harvesting complex - PFD photon flux density - PS photosystem     

Photoinhibition of photosynthesis in intact kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) leaves: Effect of light during growth on photoinhibition and recovery

Photoinhibition of photosynthesis was induced in intact kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa (A. Chev.) C. F. Liang et A. R. Ferguson) leaves grown at two photon flux densities (PFDs) of 700 and 1300 mol·m^-2·s^-1 in a controlled environment, by exposing the leaves to PFD between 1000 and 2000 mol·m^-2·s^-1 at temperatures between 10 and 25°C; recovery from photoinhibition was followed at the same range of temperatures and at a PFD between 0 and 500 mol·m^-2·s^-1. In either case the time-courses of photoinhibition and recovery were followed by measuring chlorophyll fluorescence at 692 nm and 77K and by measuring the photon yield of photosynthetic O₂ evolution. The initial rate of photoinhibition was lower in the high-light-grown plants but the long-term extent of photoinhibition was not different from that in low-light-grown plants. The rate constants for recovery after photoinhibition for the plants grown at 700 and 1300 mol·m^-2·s^-1 or for those grown in shade were similar, indicating that differences between sun and shade leaves in their susceptibility to photoinhibition could not be accounted for by differences in capacity for recovery during photoinhibition. Recovery following photoinhibition was increasingly suppressed by an increasing PFD above 20 mol·m^-2·s^-1, indicating that recovery in photoinhibitory conditions would, in any case, be very slow. Differences in photosynthetic capacity and in the capacity for dissipation of non-radiative energy seemed more likely to contribute to differences in susceptibility to photoinhibition between sun and shade leaves of kiwifruit.Abbreviations and symbols F _o , F _m , F _v instantaneous, maximum, variable fluorescence - F _v /F _m fluorescence ratio - F _i =F _v at t=0 - F F _v at t= - K _D rate constant for photochemistry - k(F _p ) first-order rate constant for photoinhibition - k(F _r ) first-order rate constant for recovery - PFD photon flux density - PSII photosystem II - _i photon yield of O₂ evolution (incident light)     

ACCLIMATION OF EMILIANIA HUXLEYI (PRYMNESIOPHYCEAE) TO PHOTON FLUX DENSITY1

Growth rate, pigment composition, and noninvasive chl a fluorescence parameters were assessed for a noncalcifying strain of the prymnesiophyte Emiliania huxleyi Lohman grown at 50, 100, 200, and 800 μmol photons·m^?2·s^?1. Emiliania huxleyi grown at high photon flux density (PFD) was characterized by increased specific growth rates, 0.82 d^?1 for high PFD grown cells compared with 0.38 d^?1 for low PFD grown cells, and higher in vivo chl a specific attenuation coefficients that were most likely due to a decreased pigment package, consistent with the observed decrease in cellular photosynthetic pigment content. High PFD growth conditions also induced a 2.5‐fold increase in the pool of the xanthophyll cycle pigments diadinoxanthin and diatoxanthin responsible for dissipation of excess energy. Dark‐adapted maximal photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m) remained constant at around 0.58 for cells grown over the range of PFDs, and therefore the observed decline, from 0.57 to 0.33, in the PSII maximum efficiency in the light‐adapted state, (F_v′/F_m′), with increasing growth PFD was due to increased dissipation of excess energy, most likely via the xanthophyll cycle and not due to photoinhibition. The PSII operating efficiency (F_q′/F_m′) decreased from 0.48 to 0.21 with increasing growth PFD due to both saturation of photochemistry and an increase in nonphotochemical quenching. The changes in the physiological parameters with growth PFD enable E. huxleyi to maximize rates of photosynthesis under subsaturating conditions and protect the photosynthetic apparatus from excess energy while supporting higher saturating rates of photosynthesis under saturating PFDs.     

Response of xanthophyll cycle and chloroplastic antioxidant enzymes to chilling stress in tomato over-expressing glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase gene

Over-expression of chloroplastic glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase gene (LeGPAT) increased unsaturated fatty acid contents in phosphatidylglycerol (PG) of thylakoid membrane in tomato. The effect of this increase on the xanthophyll cycle and chloroplast antioxidant enzymes was examined by comparing wild type (WT) tomato with the transgenic (TG) lines at chilling temperature (4 °C) under low irradiance (100 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹). Net photosynthetic rate and the maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem (PS) 2 (F_v/F_m) in TG plants decreased more slowly during chilling stress and F_v/F_m recovered faster than that in WT plants under optimal conditions. The oxidizable P700 in both WT and TG plants decreased during chilling stress under low irradiance, but recovered faster in TG plants than in the WT ones. During chilling stress, non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and the de-epoxidized ratio of xanthophyll cycle in WT plants were lower than those of TG tomatoes. The higher activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in TG plants resulted in the reduction of O₂ ^−· and H₂O₂ contents during chilling stress. Hence the increase in content of unsaturated fatty acids in PG by the over-expression of LeGPAT could alleviate photoinhibition of PS2 and PS1 by improving the de-epoxidized ratio of xanthophyll cycle and activities of SOD and APX in chloroplast.