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。     

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.     

叶绿素荧光分析技术及应用进展

叶绿素荧光动力学技术被称为研究植物光合功能的快速、无损伤探针,已逐渐在环境胁迫对植物光合作用影响研究方面得到应用,随着叶绿素荧光分析技术的进一步发展,其应用领域和研究空间将进一步拓展.本文介绍了叶绿素荧光分析的基本原理,综述了叶绿素荧光分析技术的应用研究进展.     

盐胁迫对植物叶绿素荧光影响的研究进展

盐胁迫是制约植物生长发育的主要非生物胁迫之一, 研究植物的耐盐机理对开发和有效利用盐碱地有重要的意义。叶绿素荧光动力技术作为研究植物光合生理状况及植物与逆境胁迫关系的理想方法, 可表明外界胁迫环境对植物光合器官的伤害程度。通过总结性阐述盐胁迫对植物叶绿素荧光的影响, 分别从盐分类型、植物类型、光照强度以及盐旱交互作用等方面分析了植物叶绿素荧光对盐胁迫的响应, 进而反映盐胁迫对植物光合能力的影响程度, 并提出增强植物抗盐性的途径, 包括施加外源物质、利用转基因技术、真菌的协同效应和培育耐盐品种。最后对叶绿素荧光动力技术在抗盐胁迫的运用前景进行了展望, 提出了当前研究需要解决的问题, 旨在为提高植物耐盐能力提供一定的理论依据。     

采煤沉陷裂缝区土壤含水量变化对柠条叶片叶绿素荧光的响应

采煤塌陷引起的土壤环境因子的变化对矿区植物生长的影响越来越受到人们的关注,快速叶绿素荧光诱导动力学分析技术被称为植物受胁迫状态的有效探针,能够快速获取胁迫下光系统II光化学活性和电子传递的信息。研究采煤塌陷裂缝区植物叶片叶绿素荧光的变化是揭示煤炭开采塌陷胁迫对植物个体生长影响的关键环节,能为大尺度下采煤沉陷区植物损伤机理研究提供基础。对于黄土高原半干旱矿区,土壤水分无疑是植物生长最重要的限制因素,而植物叶片叶绿素荧光变化采煤塌陷影响下土壤含水量变化的响应如何尚不清楚。为了弄清采煤沉陷裂缝影响下土壤含水量变化对柠条叶片叶绿素荧光响应的影响,选取神东煤田大柳塔矿区52302工作面为实验场地,在分析了采煤塌陷裂缝对土壤含水量的影响的基础上,以生态修复物种柠条为研究对象,对采煤塌陷裂缝区不同土壤含水量下柠条叶片快速叶绿素荧光诱导动力学曲线进行监测。结果显示:(1)由于煤炭井工开采在地表形成大量裂缝,破坏了土体结构,增加了土壤水分的蒸发面,加速了土壤水的散失。土壤水分含量随着与裂缝之间距离的增加而增加,从距离裂缝0 cm到300 cm,土壤平均含水量从5.63%增加到15.07%;(2)裂缝区土壤水分降低,柠条受到干旱胁迫程度加重,叶片快速叶绿素荧光诱导动力学曲线由O—J—I—P变形为O—K—J—I—P曲线。干旱胁迫通过干扰柠条叶片PSII电子供体侧、受体侧以及电子传递链的功能,严重的损害了柠条叶片光合机构的正常功能。     

高温对仁用杏光合特性及PSⅡ光化学活性的影响

为探讨高温胁迫下仁用杏叶片的光合适应机制,以科尔沁沙地生长的4年生'超仁'仁用杏为试材,设置环境温度为25℃、30℃、40℃和50℃处理,利用气体交换技术和快速叶绿素荧光诱导动力学曲线分析技术(JIP-test),研究了仁用杏叶片光合特性和PSⅡ光化学活性.结果表明:在一定温度范围内,随着温度升高,仁用杏通过提高光合色素含量和比例来维持光能的吸收、传递和转换能力,从而保证光合机构正常运转;当高温超过叶片自身生理调节限度后,叶绿素发生分解、净光合速率(Pn)明显下降、胞间CO2浓度(Ci)上升,说明光合作用的下降是由叶肉因素造成的.温度40℃导致单位面积有活性反应中心数量(RC/CSo)显著下降;而50℃高温下荧光诱导曲线中K点(Wk)和J点(Vj)明显增加,高温对仁用杏叶片放氧复合体(OEC)、受体侧和PsⅡ反应中心造成了伤害.此外,50℃高温还导致初始荧光(Fo)显著升高,为对照的2.26倍,PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)和光化学性能指数(PI/ABS)分别下降为对照的37.9%和10.3%.高温损害了PSⅡ供体侧和受体侧的功能,造成光合效率下降,这是高温胁迫对仁用杏叶片光合机构伤害的主要机制之一.     

基于叶绿素荧光参数的小麦叶片叶绿素相对含量估算方法

叶绿素含量是植物学和农业相关研究领域常用的生理指标。叶绿素含量和叶片光合功能密切相关,但是现有的叶绿素含量的测定方法无法实现叶绿素含量和光合功能的同步测定和关联分析。为解决该问题,本研究通过测定35个小麦品种旗叶的SPAD值和叶绿素荧光诱导动力学曲线,分别使用不同时间的快速叶绿素荧光动力学曲线的荧光值,以及33个常用荧光参数与对应叶片的SPAD值进行相关性分析,建立线性回归模型,并使用室内和大田两组数据对回归模型进行验证。结果表明: 通过叶绿素荧光参数RC/CS_m建立的线性模型能够较好地预测叶片的SPAD值,可以用于非严重逆境胁迫下小麦叶片叶绿素相对含量的估算,从而丰富无损测定小麦叶绿素相对含量的方法,简化试验流程,实现小麦光合功能和叶绿素含量的同步测定与分析。     

软枣猕猴桃叶片光系统Ⅱ活性对不同温度的响应

以软枣猕猴桃"魁绿"为试验材料,利用快速叶绿素荧光诱导动力学曲线分析技术(JIP-test)研究了热胁迫处理对植株叶片光系统Ⅱ活性的影响。结果显示:(1)软枣猕猴桃叶片最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)在35~48℃的范围内并没有明显变化,只有当温度升高到52℃时才显著下降。(2)随着温度升高,叶绿素荧光诱导动力学曲线中J点和I点的相对可变荧光Vj和Vi呈显著下降趋势,在52℃又显著升高,而K点的相对可变荧光Vk则逐渐上升;叶片捕获的激子将电子传递到电子传递链中QA-下游电子受体的概率(ψ0)随着温度升高而逐渐上升,但在52℃时显著下降。(3)随着热胁迫时间的延长,Vj和Vi随时间延长而升高,ψ0则下降,电子传递链受体侧受到了严重的抑制。研究表明,高温显著抑制了软枣猕猴桃叶片PSⅡ电子传递链供体侧和受体侧的活性,但PSⅡ的供体侧比受体侧对高温更加敏感;JIP-test测定的相关参数能有效地评价不同温度对软枣猕猴桃光系统活性的影响。     

一种新型植物动力学荧光仪

当植物从暗中转到光下时 ,其体内叶绿素 (Ｃｈｌ)荧光强度会随照光时间产生有规律的变化 ,这就是植物荧光诱导现象。由于它能够灵敏、快速、简便和无损伤地探测植物体内光合生理状况及环境因子对植物的影响 ,近年来在植物生理、植物生态、农业、林业、环境污染和遥感等领域得到重视和应用［１,２,３］。植物动力学荧光仪有调制式和非调制式两类 ,非调制式荧光仪特别适合于荧光诱导上升曲线及曲线中偏转荧光 (ＦＩ)和荧光上升互补面积 (ＣＡ)的研究 ,其中ＦＩ 是快速简便地探测体内ＰＳＩＩ无活性中心相对含量的重要途径 ,后者与光合激发能…     

超表达拟南芥2-烯醛还原酶基因对烟草抗旱性的作用机理分析

为研究是否可以利用2-烯醛还原酶(AER)来清除活性氧下游的醛自由基达到提高植物的抗旱性,以超表达拟南芥AER基因烟草和野生型烟草(SR)为研究材料,利用干旱胁迫处理进行抗旱性分析,测定了干旱胁迫及复水后各个烟草株系的生物量、光合速率、叶绿素荧光参数、叶绿素含量、MDA和H2O2含量等指标。结果显示:(1)干旱胁迫下,转基因烟草株系的生物量、叶绿素含量、净光合速率、PSⅡ最大光化学效率及H2O2的清除能力均显著高于对照;(2)复水之后,烟草植株的各项生理指标都得到一定程度的恢复,而转基因株系相比于野生型恢复迅速,恢复能力更强。研究认为,超表达AER基因可以通过清除活性氧及其下游醛自由基来提高烟草的抗旱能力。     

Electron flow to oxygen in higher plants and algae: rates and control of direct photoreduction (Mehler reaction) and rubisco oxygenase

Linear electron transport in chloroplasts produces a number of reduced components associated with photosystem I (PS I) that may subsequently participate in reactions that reduce O2. The two primary reactions that have been extensively studied are: first, the direct reduction of O2 to superoxide by reduced donors associated with PS I (the Mehler reaction), and second, the rubisco oxygenase (ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase EC 4.1.1.39) reaction and associated peroxisomal and mitochondrial reactions of the photorespiratory pathway. This paper reviews a number of recent and past studies with higher plants, algae and cyanobacteria that have attempted to quantify O2 fluxes under various conditions and their contributions to a number of roles, including photon energy dissipation. In C3 and Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants, a Mehler O2 uptake reaction is unlikely to support a significant flow of electron transport (probably less than 10%). In addition, if it were present it would appear to scale with photosynthetic carbon oxidation cycle (PCO) and photosynthetic carbon reduction cycle (PCR) activity This is supported by studies with antisense tobacco plants with reduced rubisco at low and high temperatures and high light, as well as studies with potatoes, grapes and madrone during water stress. The lack of significant Mehler in these plants directly argues for a strong control of Mehler reaction in the absence of ATP consumption by the PCR and PCO cycles. The difference between C3 and C4 plants is primarily that the level of light-dependent O2 uptake is generally much lower in C4 plants and is relatively insensitive to the external CO2 concentration. Such a major difference is readily attributed to the operation of the C4 CO2 concentrating mechanism. Algae show a range of light-dependent O2 uptake rates, similar to C4 plants. As in C4 plants, the O2 uptake appears to be largely insensitive to CO2, even in species that lack a CO2 concentrating mechanism and under conditions that are clearly limiting with respect to inorganic carbon supply. A part explanation for this could be that many algal rubsicos have considerably different oxygenase kinetic properties and exhibit far less oxygenase activity in air. This would lead to the conclusion that perhaps a greater proportion of the observed O2 uptake may be due to a Mehler reaction and less to rubisco, compared with C3 plants. In contrast to algae and higher plants, cyanobacteria appear to have a high capacity for Mehler O2 uptake, which appears to be not well coupled or limited by ATP consumption. It is likely that in all higher plants and algae, which have a well-developed non-photochemical quenching mechanism, non-radiative energy dissipation is the major mechanism for dissipating excess photons absorbed by the light-harvesting complexes under stressful conditions. However, for cyanobacteria, with a lack of significant non-photochemical quenching, the situation may well be different.     

Hydroxyl-radical production in physiological reactions. A novel function of peroxidase.

Peroxidases catalyze the dehydrogenation by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) of various phenolic and endiolic substrates in a peroxidatic reaction cycle. In addition, these enzymes exhibit an oxidase activity mediating the reduction of O2 to superoxide (O2.-) and H2O2 by substrates such as NADH or dihydroxyfumarate. Here we show that horseradish peroxidase can also catalyze a third type of reaction that results in the production of hydroxyl radicals (.OH) from H2O2 in the presence of O2.-. We provide evidence that to mediate this reaction, the ferric form of horseradish peroxidase must be converted by O2.- into the perferryl form (Compound III), in which the haem iron can assume the ferrous state. It is concluded that the ferric/perferryl peroxidase couple constitutes an effective biochemical catalyst for the production of .OH from O2.- and H2O2 (iron-catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction). This reaction can be measured either by the hydroxylation of benzoate or the degradation of deoxyribose. O2.- and H2O2 can be produced by the oxidase reaction of horseradish peroxidase in the presence of NADH. The .OH-producing activity of horseradish peroxidase can be inhibited by inactivators of haem iron or by various O2.- and .OH scavengers. On an equimolar Fe basis, horseradish peroxidase is 1-2 orders of magnitude more active than Fe-EDTA, an inorganic catalyst of the Haber-Weiss reaction. Particularly high .OH-producing activity was found in the alkaline horseradish peroxidase isoforms and in a ligninase-type fungal peroxidase, whereas lactoperoxidase and soybean peroxidase were less active, and myeloperoxidase was inactive. Operating in the .OH-producing mode, peroxidases may be responsible for numerous destructive and toxic effects of activated oxygen reported previously.     

Proteomic identification of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase as an inhibitory target of hydrogen peroxide in Arabidopsis.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is now recognised as a key signalling molecule in eukaryotes. In plants, H2O2 is involved in regulating stomatal closure, gravitropic responses, gene expression and programmed cell death. Although several kinases, such as oxidative signal-inducible 1 (OXI1) kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinases are known to be activated by exogenous H2O2, little is known about the proteins that directly react with H2O2. Here, we utilised a proteomic approach, using iodoacetamide-based fluorescence tagging of proteins in conjunction with mass spectrometric analysis, to identify several proteins that might be potential targets of H2O2 in the cytosolic fraction of Arabidopsis thaliana, the most prominent of which was cytosolic glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (cGAPDH; EC 1.2.1.12). cGAPDH from Arabidopsis is inactivated by H2O2 in vitro, and this inhibition is reversible by the subsequent addition of reductants such as reduced glutathione (GSH). It has been suggested recently that Arabidopsis GAPDH has roles outside of its catalysis as part of glycolysis, while in other systems this includes that of mediating reactive oxygen species (ROS) signalling. Here, we suggest that cGAPDH in Arabidopsis might also have such a role in mediating ROS signalling in plants.     

Plant responses to abiotic stresses: heavy metal-induced oxidative stress and protection by mycorrhization

The aim of this review is to assess the mode of action and role of antioxidants as protection from heavy metal stress in roots, mycorrhizal fungi and mycorrhizae. Based on their chemical and physical properties three different molecular mechanisms of heavy metal toxicity can be distinguished: (a) production of reactive oxygen species by autoxidation and Fenton reaction; this reaction is typical for transition metals such as iron or copper, (b) blocking of essential functional groups in biomolecules, this reaction has mainly been reported for non-redox-reactive heavy metals such as cadmium and mercury, (c) displacement of essential metal ions from biomolecules; the latter reaction occurs with different kinds of heavy metals. Transition metals cause oxidative injury in plant tissue, but a literature survey did not provide evidence that this stress could be alleviated by increased levels of antioxidative systems. The reason may be that transition metals initiate hydroxyl radical production, which can not be controlled by antioxidants. Exposure of plants to non-redox reactive metals also resulted in oxidative stress as indicated by lipid peroxidation, H(2)O(2) accumulation, and an oxidative burst. Cadmium and some other metals caused a transient depletion of GSH and an inhibition of antioxidative enzymes, especially of glutathione reductase. Assessment of antioxidative capacities by metabolic modelling suggested that the reported diminution of antioxidants was sufficient to cause H(2)O(2) accumulation. The depletion of GSH is apparently a critical step in cadmium sensitivity since plants with improved capacities for GSH synthesis displayed higher Cd tolerance. Available data suggest that cadmium, when not detoxified rapidly enough, may trigger, via the disturbance of the redox control of the cell, a sequence of reactions leading to growth inhibition, stimulation of secondary metabolism, lignification, and finally cell death. This view is in contrast to the idea that cadmium results in unspecific necrosis. Plants in certain mycorrhizal associations are less sensitive to cadmium stress than non-mycorrhizal plants. Data about antioxidative systems in mycorrhizal fungi in pure culture and in symbiosis are scarce. The present results indicate that mycorrhization stimulated the phenolic defence system in the Paxillus-Pinus mycorrhizal symbiosis. Cadmium-induced changes in mycorrhizal roots were absent or smaller than those in non-mycorrhizal roots. These observations suggest that although changes in rhizospheric conditions were perceived by the root part of the symbiosis, the typical Cd-induced stress responses of phenolics were buffered. It is not known whether mycorrhization protected roots from Cd-induced injury by preventing access of cadmium to sensitive extra- or intracellular sites, or by excreted or intrinsic metal-chelators, or by other defence systems. It is possible that mycorrhizal fungi provide protection via GSH since higher concentrations of this thiol were found in pure cultures of the fungi than in bare roots. The development of stress-tolerant plant-mycorrhizal associations may be a promising new strategy for phytoremediation and soil amelioration measures.     

Fractionation of the three stable oxygen isotopes by oxygen-producing and oxygen-consuming reactions in photosynthetic organisms

The triple isotope composition (delta17O and delta18O) of dissolved O2 in the ocean and in ice cores was recently used to assess the primary productivity over broad spatial and temporal scales. However, assessment of the productivity with the aid of this method must rely on accurate measurements of the 17O/16O versus 18O/16O relationship in each of the main oxygen-producing and -consuming reactions. Data obtained here showed that cleavage of water in photosystem II did not fractionate oxygen isotopes; the delta18O and delta17O of the O2 evolved were essentially identical to those of the substrate water. The fractionation slopes for the oxygenase reaction of Rubisco and respiration were identical (0.518 +/- 0.001) and that of glycolate oxidation was 0.503 +/- 0.002. There was a considerable difference in the slopes of O2 photoreduction (the Mehler reaction) in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 (0.497 +/- 0.004) and that of pea (Pisum sativum) thylakoids (0.526 +/- 0.001). These values provided clear and independent evidence that the mechanism of O2 photoreduction differs between higher plants and cyanobacteria. We used our method to assess the magnitude of O2 photoreduction in cyanobacterial cells maintained under conditions where photorespiration was negligible. It was found that electron flow to O2 can be as high as 40% that leaving photosystem II, whereas respiratory activity in the light is only 6%. The implications of our findings to the evaluation of specific O2-producing or -consuming reactions, in vivo, are discussed.     

Effects of bovine urine, plants and temperature on N2O and CO2 emissions from a sub-tropical soil

Grazing ruminants urinate and deposit N onto pastoral soils at rates up to 1,000 kg ha^?1, with most of this deposited N present as urea. In urine patches, nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions can increase markedly. Soil derived CO₂ fluxes can also increase due to priming effects.While N₂O fluxes are affected by temperature, no studies have examined the interaction of pasture plants, urine and temperature on N₂O fluxes and the associated CO₂ fluxes. We postulated the response of N₂O emissions to bovine urine application would be affected by plants and temperature. Dairy cattle urine was collected, labelled with ¹⁵N, and applied at 590 kg N ha^?1 to a sub-tropical soil,with and without pasture plants at 11°, 19°, and 23°C. Over the experimental period (28 days), 0.2% (11°C with plants) to 2.2% (23°C with plants) of the applied N was emitted as N₂O. At 11°C, plants had no effect on cumulative N₂O-N fluxes, whereas at 23°C, the presence of plants significantly increased the flux, suggesting plant-derived C supply affected the N₂O producing microbes. In contrast, a significant urine application effect on the cumulative CO₂ flux was not affected by varying temperature from 11?C23°C or by growing plants in the soil. This study has shown that plants and their responses to temperature affect N₂O emissions from ruminant urine deposition. The results have significant implications for forecasting and understanding the effect of elevated soil temperatures on N₂O emissions and CO₂ fluxes from grazed pasture systems.     

A Noninvasive Technique for Monitoring Peroxidative and H2O2-Scavenging Activities during Interactions between Bacterial Plant Pathogens and Suspension Cells

Stimulation of active oxygen metabolism occurs during the early stages of interactions involving bacteria and plant cell suspensions. Although many cellular processes are known to affect active oxygen metabolism in plants, it is not known which of these factors affect active oxygen levels during plant-bacteria interactions. Extracellular peroxidases have been shown to participate in both the production and utilization of active oxygen species such as H2O2 and superoxide. Catalase and other scavenging mechanisms also affect the overall level of active oxygen. In this study the luminol-dependent chemiluminescent reaction previously used to measure H2O2 levels in suspension cells was modified to allow the assay of both peroxidase and H2O2-scavenging activity. The early stages of the interactions between tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and Pseudomonas syringae pv syringae, as well as between soybean (Glycine max) and P. syringae pv glycinea, were investigated. This method of monitoring peroxidase and H2O2-scavenging activity proved to be rapid, sensitive, and nonintrusive, allowing the processing of multiple samples using intact cells or cell-free preparations. The results from the study demonstrate that the scavenging activities can be significant and must be considered when studying active oxygen production in biological interactions.     

Time-resolved chemiluminescence study of the TiO2 photocatalytic reaction and its induced active oxygen species.

The time-resolved chemiluminescence (CL) method has been applied to study the TiO(2) photocatalytic reaction on a micros-ms timescale. The experimental set-up for time-resolved CL was improved for confirmation of the unique luminol CL induced by the photocatalytic reaction. The third harmonic light (355 nm) from an Nd:YAG laser was used for the light source of the TiO(2) photocatalytic reaction. Luminol CL induced by this reaction was detected by a photomultiplier tube (PMT) and a preamplifier was used for amplifying the CL signal. Experimental conditions affecting the photocatalytically induced CL were discussed in detail. The involvement of active oxygen species such as .OH, O(2) (.-) and H(2)O(2) in the CL was examined by adding their scavengers. It is concluded that .OH was greatly involved in the CL on a micros-ms timescale, especially in time periods <100 micros after illumination of the pulse laser. On the other hand, CL generated by O(2) (.-) began to increase after 100 micros and became dominant after 2.5 ms. A small part of the CL might be generated by H(2)O(2) on the whole micros-ms timescale. A CL reaction mechanism related with .OH and dissolved oxygen was proposed to explain the photocatalytically induced luminol CL on a micros-ms timescale, especially in periods <100 micros.     

How plants cope with complete submergence

Flooding is a widespread phenomenon that drastically reduces the growth and survival of terrestrial plants. The dramatic decrease of gas diffusion in water compared with in air is a major problem for terrestrial plants and limits the entry of CO(2) for photosynthesis and of O(2) for respiration. Responses to avoid the adverse effects of submergence are the central theme in this review. These include underwater photosynthesis, aerenchyma formation and enhanced shoot elongation. Aerenchyma facilitates gas diffusion inside plants so that shoot-derived O(2) can diffuse to O(2)-deprived plant parts, such as the roots. The underwater gas-exchange capacity of leaves can be greatly enhanced by a thinner cuticle, reorientation of the chloroplasts towards the epidermis and increased specific leaf area (i.e. thinner leaves). At the same time, plants can outgrow the water through increased shoot elongation, which in some species is preceded by an adjustment of leaf angle to a more vertical position. The molecular regulatory networks involved in these responses, including the putative signals to sense submergence, are discussed and suggestions made on how to unravel the mechanistic basis of the induced expression of various adaptations that alleviate O(2) shortage underwater.