西双版纳两种生态特性不同的外来草本植物对生长环境光强的适应策略

于干热季测定了紫茎泽兰和阳春砂仁叶片比叶重、色素含量、光合能力和叶绿素荧光动力学参数,探讨了它们适应环境光强的策略及其生理生态学机制。36 %光强下砂仁叶片光抑制较明显;10 0 %光强下紫茎泽兰光抑制不严重,光系统 最大光能转换效率和量子效率始终维持在较高水平。随着环境光强的升高,紫茎泽兰最大净光合速率(Pmax)、比叶重、非光化学猝灭系数(N PQ)和单位面积叶片类胡萝卜素含量升高,单位干重叶片叶绿素含量降低。紫茎泽兰能通过形态和生理特性的变化适应大幅度的光强范围,这可能是其表现强入侵性的重要原因之一。强光下紫茎泽兰热耗散并不多,主要通过提高Pmax利用更多的光能来保护光合机构,光系统 反应中心可逆失活也能耗散部分光能。虽然砂仁Pmax也能随生长环境光强的升高而增大,但其值较低,增幅不大,相反其热耗散的增加较多,N PQ较高,白天初始荧光明显低于黎明,表明砂仁主要是通过热耗散来保护光合机构。     

飞机草和兰花菊三七光合作用对生长光强的适应

测定了干季不同光强下生长的飞机草和兰花菊三七叶片最大净光合速率(Pmax)、荧光动力学参数、叶绿素含量和比叶重(LMA),研究了两种植物适应光环境的策略,探讨了其与入侵性的关系.100%光强下,两种植物主要通过降低捕光色素复合体Ⅱ的含量减少光能吸收,提高Pmax增加光能利用维持叶片能量平衡,而它们的热耗散能力并不强,均显著低于其它光强下的值.100%光强下,提高类胡萝卜素含量是飞机草耗散过剩能量的有效策略,而兰花菊三七可能有其它耗散途径.4.5%光强下仅飞机草能够存活,它通过降低LMA、维持很低的日间热耗散和较高的光合系统Ⅱ非环式电子传递效率适应了弱光环境.推测对强光环境较强的适应能力是入侵植物的共性之一,但这种能力强不一定入侵性大.     

生长环境光强对两种热带雨林树种幼苗光合作用的影响

以西双版纳热带雨林中演替后期种绒毛番龙眼和先锋树种山黄麻为材料 ,于雾凉季测定了不同光强下生长的 2种树苗叶片最大净光合速率 (Pmax)、叶绿素荧光参数以及光合色素含量和比叶重 (L MA) ,探讨了不同生态习性热带雨林树种幼苗对光强的适应及光保护机制。发现在一定光强范围内随生长环境光强的增加 ,2种树苗 L MA、荧光的非化学猝灭 (N PQ)、类胡萝卜素(Car)含量、Car与叶绿素 (Chl)之比升高 ,光饱和点和光补偿点也有随生长环境光强的增大而升高的趋势 ,Chl含量降低 ,2种树苗均能通过形态和生理特性的变化适应不同的光强环境。相同的生长光强下 ,绒毛番龙眼光抑制明显比山黄麻重 ,山黄麻适应强光的能力强。随生长环境光强的增加 ,山黄麻 N PQ增加不显著 ,热耗散较少 ,相同光强下其 Pmax显著高于绒毛番龙眼。绒毛番龙眼则相反 ,其热耗散随生长环境光强的升高显著增多 ,但 Pmax差异不显著。表明先锋种山黄麻主要通过提高 Pmax利用光能防止光合机构光破坏 ,而演替后期种绒毛番龙眼却较大程度通过增强非光化学猝灭来耗散过量光能。上午人为降低光强度对先锋种山黄麻影响不大 ,但可以明显缓解绒毛番龙眼的光抑制 ,表明上午一定程度的遮光 (如有雾 )可减缓绒毛番龙眼光抑制     

生长光强对4种热带雨林树苗光合机构的影响

于雾凉季研究了西双版纳热带雨林 4种植物幼苗对光抑制及光破坏的防御。发现不同光强下生长的玉蕊和滇南红厚壳日间光抑制均较团花树和滇南插柚紫重 ,在中光强下还发生了长期光抑制。中光强下生长的团花树和滇南插柚紫叶绿素含量降低 ,光合能力升高 ,同时增加热耗散量 ,维持光能平衡 ,避免了光破坏的发生。中光强下玉蕊和滇南红厚壳减少光能吸收、提高热耗散的同时 ,发生了光系统II光化学量子产量长期下调。中光强下生长的 4种植物叶片的类胡罗卜素的绝对含量并不高 ,但单位叶绿素的类胡罗卜素含量显著升高 ,相对保护作用增强。先锋树种团花树类胡罗卜素含量低于另 3种植物 ,这与其较低的热耗散速率相一致 ,光合能力的提高对其光破坏的防御有重要的作用     

热带雨林蒲桃属3个树种的幼苗光合作用对生长光强的适应

 测定了生长于3种光强下（100％、42％和14％自然光强） 热带雨林演替早期（思茅蒲桃Syzygium latilimbum）、中期（乌墨S.cumini）和后期（阔叶蒲桃S. szemaoense）出现的蒲桃属 （Syzygium）3个树种幼苗叶片气体交换参数和叶绿素荧光参数的日变化、比叶重和叶绿素含量。发现演替早期树种光合能力和光合可塑性最大、中期树种次之,后期树种光合能力最弱且在强光下受到显著抑制。但是,生长在强光下,3个树种均未发生长期光抑制和光破坏。随生长光强增加,3个树种热耗散速率都升高。不过在强光下,中期和后期树种通过热耗散消耗的过剩光能较多,通过叶黄素循环的热耗散可能对于这两个树种在强光下避免光合机构的光破坏起到了重要作用。14％光强下,3个树种最大净光合速率、光合作用的光饱和点、光补偿点、暗呼吸速率、比叶重降低,叶片单位干重叶绿素含量提高,对低光环境有了较好的形态学和生理学适应。但是,在4％光强下思茅蒲桃和乌墨幼苗全部死亡,只有阔叶蒲桃幼苗仍能存活,说明阔叶蒲桃幼苗适应弱光环境的能力高于思茅蒲桃和乌墨,与它们的演替状态一致。     

干旱胁迫对不同光环境下的三叶漆幼苗光合特性和叶绿素荧光参数的影响

以2年生三叶漆(T erm inth ia p an icu la ta)幼苗为实验材料,研究了生长于全自然光和遮荫条件(光强相当于自然光强的50%)下幼苗的光合特性和叶绿素荧光参数对不同土壤水分条件的响应,探讨了其对干旱和强光胁迫的生理适应机制.结果表明,叶片相对含水量(RW C)、叶水势(Ψ)、最大光合速率(Pm ax)、表观量子效率(AQY)、暗呼吸速率(Rd)和光合色素含量都随干旱胁迫的加剧而下降.Pm ax、AQY、Rd和比叶重(LM A)随光强的增加而升高,色素含量则随光强升高而降低.Ch la/b、C ar/Ch l随干旱程度和光强的增加有升高的趋势.PSⅡ的最大光能转换效率(Fv/Fm)和光化学量子效率(ФPSⅡ)在日间光较强时明显降低,说明发生了光抑制.电子传递速率(ETR)和非光化学猝灭系数(N PQ)随日间光强的增大而升高,表明三叶漆可能通过增强光呼吸和热耗散抵御光抑制、保护光合机构.二元方差分析表明,水分和光强具有明显的交互作用.全自然光下严重干旱的幼苗仍有较高的Pm ax(9.65μm o l.m-2.-s 1),说明三叶漆对干旱和强光具有极强的适应能力,这也是其成为干热河谷植被优势种的重要原因.     

喜光榕树和耐荫榕树光适应机制的差异

100%和36%光强下生长的喜光的斜叶榕的光合能力高于耐荫的假斜叶榕,而热耗散能力与之相似,说明强光下斜叶榕主要通过光合作用利用光能和热耗散、假斜叶榕主要通过热耗散防御光破坏.100%光强下生长的两种榕树的日间光抑制程度相似,但叶表光强相同情况下各光强下生长的假斜叶榕的光抑制均比斜叶榕严重.100%光强下假斜叶榕叶片悬挂角大于斜叶榕,导致日间叶表光强低于斜叶榕,这可能是两种榕树日间光抑制程度相似的原因,表明叶片悬挂角的适应变化对假斜叶榕有重要的意义.     

越冬期广玉兰阳生叶和阴生叶PSⅡ功能及捕光色素分子内禀特性的比较研究

捕光色素分子的内禀特性不仅决定了光能的吸收与传递,也将影响到激发能向光化学反应、热耗散和叶绿素荧光的分配。本文采用叶绿素荧光技术和光合电子流对光响应机理模型,研究了越冬期广玉兰（Magnolia grandiflora）阳生叶和阴生叶两种不同光环境下叶片PSⅡ功能及其捕光色素分子内禀特性的差异,以探索广玉兰越冬的光保护策略。结果表明：越冬期低温导致叶片轻微光抑制的发生,全光照加剧了阳生叶光抑制程度,而弱光环境有利于阴生叶光抑制的恢复。阳生叶可通过降低叶绿素含量和捕光色素分子数量以减少对光能的吸收,并且具有较强的光化学和热耗散能力以保护光合机构免受低温强光伤害。而阴生叶虽然其光化学反应能力相对较弱,但具有较强的热耗散能力,可有效地保护其免受短时曝露在强光下的伤害。     

4种木本植物叶片的光合电子传递和吸收光能分配特性对光强？…

以气体交换和叶绿素荧光测定相结合的方法研究了亚热带自然林乔木荷树、黧蒴和林下灌木九节、罗伞幼苗的光合电子传递及激发能利用的分配对生长光强的适应特性。４种植物生长于１００％、３６％和１６％的自然光下８个月,叶片的光化学速率和热能耗散速率随光强增大而提高,热能耗散占总的光能吸收的比例也因光强不同而改变,１６％光下的相对热耗散率约为４０％－４５％,１００％自然光下增大至５０％－７５％。叶片总的非环式电子     

紫茎泽兰茎和叶片色素及叶绿素荧光相关参数对不同温度处理的响应差异

通过人工模拟低温(12 ℃)、常温(25 ℃)、高温(35 ℃)生境,对紫茎泽兰茎和叶片色素(叶绿素a,b,类胡萝卜素,花青素)含量和组成、叶绿素荧光参数包括最大荧光效率Fv/Fm、光系统II效率ФpsⅡ、光化学淬灭系数qP、非光化学淬灭系数NPQ、热耗散速率HDR进行了动态测定.结果表明:在低温和高温胁迫处理过程中,茎和叶片的色素含量和组成随时间变化趋势基本一致,但茎的变化幅度明显低于叶片.与此类似,茎和叶片叶绿素荧光参数在不同温度处理过程中的变化趋势一致,但是茎各指标的变化幅度普遍小于相应叶片的变化幅度:低温下,茎的ФpsⅡ和ETR较对照最大降低44%,而叶片降低超过60%;高温下,茎的ФpsⅡ和ETR较对照下降16%～57%;而叶片则下降50%～80%.其产生原因在于:在温度胁迫条件下,叶片获取光能用于光化学过程的份额(qP)大幅下降,用于热耗散的份额(NPQ)大幅上升,茎的情况相反,所获取光能用于光化学电子传递的份额较常温下更多、用于热耗散的减少,这使得茎的耗散速率(HDR)升高的幅度显著低于叶片的升高幅度(p<0 05).综合3个温度的测定结果,茎的叶绿素含量相当于叶片的1/3～1/6,茎的叶绿素a/b较叶片低20%左右,但是光合电子传导速率ETR与叶片相当,这使得茎的光合色素利用效率ETR/Chl远高于叶片.叶片和茎叶绿素荧光参数在不同温度处理下变化趋势一致、但叶片的变化幅度远大于茎的这一响应差异,使得在适宜温度下紫茎泽兰叶片光合对整体光合贡献增大,而在温度胁迫条件下茎的光合贡献增大,这种策略使得这一植物在适宜生境下通过叶片光合、快速生长迅速占据生境,而在逆境条件下茎等非同化器官光合贡献增加,有利于其在逆境中的保存.     

遮荫对甜瓜叶片光合特性的影响

以适宜不同栽培条件的3个甜瓜品种为材料,研究了遮荫对其光合色素含量、净光合速率及比叶重等叶片特性的影响。结果表明:与正常光照相比,遮光处理能诱使甜瓜叶片叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量显著提高,叶绿素a/b显著降低。全光照条件下,3个甜瓜品种的净光合速率日变化曲线均呈双峰型,有明显的"光合午休"现象,而在遮荫条件下则呈单峰曲线变化,且光合峰值出现的时间比全光照下推迟;遮光条件下甜瓜叶片气孔导度日变化曲线与其净光合速率日变化类似。3个品种间比叶重在全光照条件下差异不显著,但遮荫显著降低了壮龄叶片的比叶重,且遮荫强度越重,比叶重越小;品种‘黄河蜜3号’壮龄叶的比叶重降幅(31.83%)显著大于‘银帝’(27.22%)和‘玉金香’(26.01%)。可见,遮荫降低了甜瓜叶片的净光合速率和功能叶片的比叶重,植株通过增加自身叶片光合色素含量以增强对环境的适应性,缓解遮荫对其的影响,品种‘银帝’表现出较强的耐弱光性。     

遮荫对连翘光合特性和叶绿素荧光参数的影响

本文系统研究了不同程度的遮荫(0%、43%、70%、97%)处理对连翘叶片光合特性和叶绿素a荧光参数的影响。结果表明：随着遮荫程度增加,最大净光合速率、光补偿点、光饱和点、暗呼吸速率降低;净光合速率日变化均呈单峰型,峰值和光能利用率增加;叶绿素a b、叶绿素a、叶绿素b含量增加,叶绿素a/b降低;叶绿素a荧光参数Fv/Fm和Fv/Fo日变化呈单谷曲线,值均高于全光照的,且随着遮荫程度的提高其值均依次增加。这说明,连翘是一种耐荫性很强的植物,遮荫可使其降低光补偿点、光饱和点、净光合速率、暗呼吸速率以及叶绿素a/b,增加总叶绿素、叶绿素a、叶绿素b含量、光能利用率以及PSⅡ原初光能转化效率和潜在活性,从而增强其在弱光条件下的生长发育能力。     

遮荫对异株荨麻光合特性和荧光参数的影响

系统研究了全光照和不同程度的遮荫(43%,58%,73%,87%,97%)对异株荨麻光合特性和荧光参数的影响。结果表明,异株荨麻的光补偿点和光饱和点均较低,且随着遮荫程度的提高,其值以及暗呼吸速率均依次降低。净光合速率日变化曲线呈单峰型,光合速率高峰值和日平均光合速率均随着遮荫程度的提高而明显下降。蒸腾速率和气孔导度的日变化与光合速率的日变化趋势一致,遮荫对蒸腾作用和气孔导度均有显著的影响,随着遮荫程度的提高,蒸腾速率和气孔导度均显著下降。在各光照条件下,蒸腾速率与气孔导度呈显著正相关。蒸腾速率和气孔导度与光合速率的相关性随遮荫条件的不同而异,全光照条件下蒸腾速率与光合速率呈显著正相关,而所有遮荫条件下相关性不显著。气孔导度与光合速率在所有光照下相关性均不显著。各遮荫条件下叶片总叶绿素、叶绿素a、叶绿素b含量均显著高于全光照的,且随遮荫程度的提高叶绿素含量呈上升趋势,而叶绿素a/b的值则随着遮荫程度的提高而下降。叶绿素荧光参数PSⅡ内禀光能转化效率(Fv/Fm)和潜在活性(Fv/Fo)日变化呈单谷曲线。各遮荫条件下Fv/Fm和Fv/Fo值均高于全光照的,且随着遮荫程度的提高其值均依次增加。这说明,异株荨麻是一种耐荫性很强的植物,遮荫可使其降低光补偿点、光饱和点、净光合速率、暗呼吸速率以及叶绿素a/b,但增加总叶绿素、叶绿素a、叶绿素b含量、光能利用率以及PSⅡ原初光能转化效率和潜在活性,以增强在弱光条件下的生长发育能力。     

遮阴对黄波罗幼苗的光合特性及光能利用效率的影响

一直以来黄波罗(Phellodendron amurense)被认为是不耐阴树种, 然而引入美国纽约后, 发现它具有一定的耐阴性, 在全光和林下均能更新, 在纽约已经成为生物入侵种。为了探讨黄波罗的耐阴性问题, 通过设置自然光与遮阴(15%自然光)两种光环境, 观测了三年生黄波罗幼苗(遮阴1 a后)光合生理参数、光能利用效率、叶绿素和比叶重的变化。结果表明, 与自然光处理相比, 遮阴处理的黄波罗幼苗最大光合速率、表观量子效率和暗呼吸速率略有下降, 但差异不显著(p>0.05), 光补偿点下降显著(p＜0.05); 同时, 单位面积叶绿素含量无显著差异(p>0.05), 而单位干重叶绿素含量显著升高, 比叶重显著下降, 叶面积显著增大(p＜0.05)。上述结果说明: 遮阴的黄波罗幼苗通过降低光补偿点和暗呼吸速率利用环境中的弱光, 同时通过减小比叶重、增大叶面积和提高叶绿素b相对含量来增强对光的捕获, 使其在弱光时的光能利用效率提高。由此推断, 黄波罗幼苗能适应一定程度的遮阴。     

不同光强对越南抱茎茶光合及荧光特性日变化的影响

为研究不同光强对越南抱茎茶光合作用机理的影响,设置3种处理方式,即全光照(L1)、光强度45%(L2)、光强度15%(L3),分别在遮阴3个月后测定其光合荧光参数的变化。结果表明,不同光强处理下,净光合速率均呈单峰曲线,峰值出现在11:00左右;光合速率下降主要是气孔限制因素引起的;叶绿素荧光参数表明,强光条件下电子传递受阻,热耗散增加,PSII反应中心受到破坏,从而降低了茶花的光合效率;过度遮阴条件下受到光抑制,从而导致光合机构损伤;45%光照条件下光合效率较高。相关性分析表明,净光合速率(Pn)与空气温度(Ta)、相对湿度(RH)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、水分利用效率(WUE)、表观电子传递速率(ETR)呈极显著相关,与RH呈极显著负相关,与胞间CO2浓度(Ci)呈显著负相关。影响越南抱茎茶净光合速率的主要环境因子是空气温度和相对湿度。     

Effects of shading on photosynthetic characteristics and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in leaves of Hydrangea macrophylla

Aims The objectives were to investigate the effects of different light intensities on photosynthetic characteristics and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, to clarify the physiological responses and photo-protective mechanisms of Hydrangea macrophylla to changes in light regimes in view of the distribution of energy absorbed and photosynthetic characteristics.Methods Three light regimes including natural and shade (shading rate 50% and 75% of natural light) were applied to plants for 60 days. After the treatment, the gas-exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence and photosynthesis-light curves were measured by a portable leaf gas exchange system (LI-6400).Important findings The results showed that the weak light intensity treatment reduced dark respiration rate, light compensation point and light saturation point of plant, but increased apparent quantum yield, suggesting that plants had the physiological strategy to utilize the weakening light by reducing respiration. The net photosynthetic rate, intercellular CO₂ concentration, transpiration rate and water use efficiency of plants grown below 50% of natural light showed significant difference compared with natural and shading rate 75% of natural light. There were significant difference between natural and shade treatments in the maximal quantum efficiency of PSII (F_v/F_m), as indicated that it was significantly less at full light than that at 50% of natural light. Initial fluorescence intensity (F_o) of plants was higher at full light than that at 50% of natural light, suggesting that photoinhibition occurred in natural light. The non-photochemical quenching (NQP) decreased with the aggravation of shade stress, indicating that shading decreased the efficiency of photochemical reaction by reducing the fraction of incident light in photochemical energy utilization and decreased thermal dissipation through regulating energy distribution in photosystem II (PSII) in the leaves of Hydrangea macrophylla. In general, the 70% of incident light in photochemical energy utilization was distributed to thermal dissipation, 20% was distributed to non-regulated energy dissipation and 4% was distributed to effective photochemical reaction. In conclusion, responses of plants to increased irradiance are governed by strategy: to utilize a high fraction of incident light in photochemistry and regulate energy dissipation in PSII and weaken the accumulation of excess excitation energy in PSII to protect the photosynthetic apparatus in the leaves of H. macrophylla under saturated radiation.     

不同光照强度下谢君魔芋的光合作用及能量分配特征

为了探讨喜阴植物谢君魔芋(Amorphophallus xiei)对不同光强的适应策略,测量和分析了不同透光率(高光,透光率100%;中光,透光率32.6%;低光,透光率5.98%)下谢君魔芋对光、CO₂、光斑的响应特征及响应过程中叶绿素a荧光和能量分配特征.结果表明: 随着生长光强的增大,谢君魔芋最大净光合速率(P_max)、暗呼吸速率、表观量子产额、羧化效率显著降低,光补偿点、CO₂补偿点显著升高.中光处理的谢君魔芋对光合诱导的响应更迅速(P<0.05);随着生长光强的增加,暗适应初始气孔导度(g_s-i)显著升高;完成光合诱导中最大净光合速率30%(t_30%P)、50%(t_50%P)和90%(t_90%P)所需的时间与g_s-i呈负相关.高光处理的植株PSⅡ实际光化学效率(ΔF/F_m′)、光化学猝灭(q_P)和电子传递速率(ETR)较高,且在光合诱导过程中所对应的非光化学猝灭(NPQ)值相对较高,而低光处理具有较高的反应中心激发能捕获效率(F_v′/F_m′).高光处理非光化学耗散途径比例(Ф_NPQ)较低,而低光处理Ф_NPQ则相对较高.表明喜阴植物谢君魔芋在中低光下生长时受到高光胁迫能够启动快速耗散机制来保护自身光合机构,长期处于高光环境则采用增加热耗散成本和形成淬灭复合物的策略在一定程度上应对高光胁迫,这可能是其不能很好适应高光环境的原因之一.     

Activation of mechanisms of photoprotection by desiccation and by light: poikilohydric photoautotrophs

Mechanisms of protection against photo-oxidation in selected desiccation-tolerant lichens and mosses have been investigated by measuring loss of light absorption during desiccation and chlorophyll fluorescence as indicators of photoprotection. Apparent absorption (1-T) spectra measured in the reflectance mode revealed stronger absorption of photosynthetic pigments in hydrated than in desiccated organisms, but differences were pronounced only in a cyanolichen, less so in some chlorolichens, and even less in mosses. Since the amplitude of chlorophyll fluorescence is a product of (1-T) light absorption by chlorophyll and quantum yield of fluorescence, and since fluorescence is inversely related to thermal energy dissipation, when chemical fluorescence quenching is negligible, fluorescence measurements were used to measure changes in energy dissipation. Preincubation of the hydrated organisms and desiccation in darkness excluded the contribution of mechanisms of energy dissipation to photoprotection which are dependent on the presence of zeaxanthin or on the light-dependent formation of a quencher of fluorescence within the reaction centre of photosystem II. Fast drying in darkness or in very low light was less effective in decreasing chlorophyll fluorescence than slow drying. Heating the desiccated organisms increased fluorescence by inactivating the mechanism responsible for fluorescence quenching. Glutaraldehyde inhibited fluorescence quenching during desiccation. Prolonged exposure of a desiccated moss or a desiccated lichen to very strong light caused more photo-induced damage after fast drying than after slow drying. The photo-oxidative nature of damage was emphasized by the observation that irreversible loss of fluorescence was larger in air than in a nitrogen atmosphere. It is concluded from these observations that desiccation-induced conformational changes of a chlorophyll protein complex result in the fast radiationless dissipation of absorbed light energy. This mechanism of photoprotection is more effective in preventing photo-oxidative damage than other mechanisms of energy dissipation which require light for activation such as zeaxanthin-dependent energy dissipation or quencher formation within the reaction centre of photosystem II.     

Conservation and dissipation of light energy as complementary processes: homoiohydric and poikilohydric autotrophs

The relationship between photosynthetic energy conservation and thermal dissipation of light energy is considered, with emphasis on organisms which tolerate full desiccation without suffering photo-oxidative damage in strong light. As soon as water becomes available to dry poikilohydric organisms, they resume photosynthetic water oxidation. Only excess light is then thermally dissipated in mosses and chlorolichens by a mechanism depending on the protonation of a thylakoid protein and availability of zeaxanthin. Upon desiccation, another mechanism is activated which requires neither protonation nor zeaxanthin although the zeaxanthin-dependent mechanism of energy dissipation remains active, provided desiccation occurs in the light. Increased thermal energy dissipation under desiccation finds expression in the loss of variable, and in the quenching of, basal chlorophyll fluorescence. Spectroscopical analysis revealed the activity of photosystem II reaction centres in the absence of water. Oxidized beta-carotene (Car+) and reduced chlorophyll (Chl-), perhaps ChlD1 next to P680 within the D1 subunit, accumulates reversibly under very strong illumination. Although recombination between Car+ and Chl- is too slow to contribute significantly to thermal energy dissipation, a much faster reaction such as the recombination between P680+ and the neighbouring Chl- is suggested to form the molecular basis of desiccation-induced energy dissipation in photosystem II reaction centres. Thermal dissipation of absorbed light energy within a picosecond time domain deactivates excited singlet chlorophyll, thereby preventing triplet accumulation and the consequent photo-oxidative damage by singlet oxygen.