Rapid changes in xanthophyll cycle-dependent energy dissipation and photosystem II efficiency in two vines, Stephania japonica and Smilax australis, growing in the understory of an open Eucalyptus forest

Leaves of Stephania japonica and Smilax australis were characterized in situ on the coast of north-eastern New South Wales, Australia, where they were growing naturally in three different light environments: deep shade, in the understory of an open Eucalyptus forest where they received frequent sunflecks of high intensity, and in an exposed site receiving full sunlight. In deep shade the xanthophyll cycle remained epoxidized during the day and the vast majority of absorbed light was utilized for photosynthesis. In the exposed site both deepoxidation and epoxidation of the xanthophyll cycle and changes in the level of xanthophyll-dependent thermal energy dissipation largely tracked the diurnal changes in photon flux density (PFD). In the understory the xanthophyll cycle became largely deepoxidized to zeaxanthin and antheraxanthin upon exposure of the leaves to the first high intensity sunfleck and this high level of deepoxidation was maintained throughout the day both during and between subsequent sunflecks. In contrast, thermal energy dissipation activity, and the efficiency of photosystem II, fluctuated rapidly in response to the changes in incident PFD. These findings suggest a fine level of control over the engagement of zeaxanthin and antheraxanthin in energy dissipation activity, presumably through rapid changes in thylakoid acidification, such that they became rapidly engaged for photoprotection during the sunflecks and rapidly disengaged upon return to low light when continued engagement might limit carbon gain.