弱光胁迫对花生功能叶片RuBP羧化酶活性及叶绿体超微结构的影响

间作套种是我国主要的花生(Arachis hypogaea)种植方式之一。然而, 与单作相比, 在间作套种体系中, 花生截获的光能较少, 生长发育差, 产量低, 研究不同品种耐阴机理对选择适宜间作套种的花生品种具有重要意义。该研究用耐阴性不同的两个花生品种‘花育22号’ (强耐阴性)和‘白沙1016’ (弱耐阴性)为材料, 在大田条件下采用不同透光率遮阴网设置50%自然光强(中度弱光胁迫)和15%自然光强(严重弱光胁迫) 2个弱光处理, 从出苗期开始遮阴40天, 以自然光强为对照, 研究了弱光胁迫对花生功能叶片RuBP羧化酶活性和叶绿体超微结构的影响。结果表明: 光强为自然光照50%和15%的处理, ‘花育22号’ RuBP羧化酶活性与对照相比虽有降低, 但差异不显著, 而‘白沙1016’分别比对照低40.1%和59.4%, 显著低于对照。与对照相比, 50%自然光强下‘花育22号’叶绿体数不变, 叶绿体基粒数和基粒片层数显著增多, 叶绿体变长且发育完好, 15%自然光强下, 叶绿体数、基粒数和淀粉粒数显著减少, 叶绿体膜和基粒片层出现破损, 但叶绿体变长, 基粒片层数增加; ‘白沙1016’在50%自然光强下, 叶绿体数目和超微结构变化同‘花育22号’相似, 在15%自然光强下叶绿体变圆, 基粒数的降幅和基粒片层破损程度大于‘花育22号’且基粒片层数减少, 淀粉粒数增多。因此, 弱光胁迫特别是严重弱光胁迫条件下, 功能叶RuBP羧化酶活性降低幅度小、叶绿体超微结构受损程度低是‘花育22号’耐阴的光合生理基础。     

花生抗旱性鉴定指标的筛选与评价

为确定鉴定花生(Arachis hypogaea)品种(系)抗旱性指标体系, 综合评价花生品种(系)的抗旱性, 在人工控水条件下, 通过盆栽试验, 测定了29个花生品种(系)苗期和花针期的株高、分枝数、生物累积量、叶片含水量和光合色素含量等与抗旱性有关的13个表观形态性状和生理性状的指标, 采用抗旱系数法和隶属函数值法, 对各指标性状进行了水分胁迫下的抗性评价和鉴定。结果表明, 29个花生品种(系)可划分为抗旱性较强、中等、较弱和不抗旱4类, 其中‘唐科8号’、‘冀花2号’、‘大唐油’、‘花育25号’、‘花育17号’、‘鲁花14号’、‘丰花1号’ 7个品种(系)具有较强的抗旱能力; 苗期同一品种(系)的主茎高、分枝数和生物累积量等形态指标和光合色素等生理指标的隶属函数值均有较大差别, 苗期各指标隶属函数值与品种(系)抗旱性无显著相关关系, 苗期单一形态指标不能作为鉴定品种(系)抗旱性的指标; 但苗期抗旱性综合评价值(D)与抗旱系数间存在显著相关关系, D的大小可作为抗旱性的鉴定指标。花针期形态指标和生理指标D值间, 以及各类指标D值与抗旱系数间均存在显著或极显著的相关关系, 此期植株形态指标、生理指标隶属函数值以及综合D值均可作为鉴定品种(系)抗旱性的指标。     

土壤类型与作物基因型对花生籽实镉积累的影响

以花生主产区的棕壤和潮土为供试土壤,以种植面积最大的白沙1016、花育22和湛油27基因型花生(Arachis hypogaea)为供试作物,采用不添加Cd(对照)和添加Cd(1.5 mg·kg^-1)处理进行盆栽试验,研究土壤类型和作物基因型对花生籽实Cd积累的影响.结果表明：两种土壤对照处理的3种基因型花生籽实Cd含量均低于国家食品安全标准,而Cd处理下均高于食品安全标准. 同种土壤Cd处理3种基因型花生籽实Cd含量显著高于对照,不同基因型间表现为湛油27＞白沙1016＞花育22,棕壤花生籽实Cd含量及总量均高于潮土. 对照处理3种基因型花生籽实Cd生物富集系数均大于1.0,Cd处理下多小于1.0,表明花生籽实对土壤中Cd的累积能力较强,土壤Cd含量进一步增加时,其生物富集能力降低.     

土壤类型与作物基因型对花生籽实镉积累的影响

以花生主产区的棕壤和潮土为供试土壤,以种植面积最大的白沙1016、花育22和湛油27基因型花生(Arachis hypogaea)为供试作物,采用不添加Cd(对照)和添加Cd(1.5 mg· kg-1)处理进行盆栽试验,研究土壤类型和作物基因型对花生籽实Cd积累的影响.结果表明:两种土壤对照处理的3种基因型花生籽实Cd含量均低于国家食品安全标准,而Cd处理下均高于食品安全标准.同种土壤Cd处理3种基因型花生籽实Cd含量显著高于对照,不同基因型间表现为湛油27＞白沙1016＞花育22,棕壤花生籽实Cd含量及总量均高于潮土.对照处理3种基因型花生籽实Cd生物富集系数均大于1.0,Cd处理下多小于1.0,表明花生籽实对土壤中Cd的累积能力较强,土壤Cd含量进一步增加时,其生物富集能力降低.     

铁皮石斛叶色突变体的叶绿体超微结构、光合色素和叶绿素荧光特性的研究

以铁皮石斛(Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo)(‘TP35’)经自然突变的白绿杂色突变体(‘TP-MA’)和太空诱变的绿黄杂色突变体(‘TP-MG’)为材料,研究不同光照强度(0、50、100μmol·m^-2·s^-1)处理后,植株叶片的叶绿体超微结构、光合色素含量以及叶绿素荧光动力学参数的变化规律,并阐明叶色突变体与正常植株光合特性的差异。结果显示,‘TP-MA’和‘TP-MG’的叶绿体形态均发生了一定程度的缺失,且叶绿体分布不均匀、无规则,基粒片层结构不完整且排列疏松,基本与其表型性状相一致。‘TP-MA’光合色素的含量和叶绿素荧光参数F v/F m、ΦPSⅡ及F v′/F m′等显著低于‘TP35’,但非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ和q P)则相对较高;‘TP-MG’的光合色素含量及叶绿素荧光参数均低于‘TP35’,但差异不显著,且对较强的光照(100μmol·m^-2·s^-1)条件具有一定的适应性。研究结果表明不同光强处理后,铁皮石斛叶色突变体的叶绿体结构和光合生理指标均发生了不同程度的变化,且对植株的叶绿素含量及荧光参数产生一定影响,过低和过高的光照强度均不利于植株的正常生长。     

Photosynthetic characteristics in different peanut cultivars under conditions of drought and re-watering at seedling stage

Aims In China, peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is mainly cultivated in the semi-arid and rain-fed areas, and drought is the most prominent environmental stress to its growth. However, studies on the physiological responses of different peanut cultivars to drought and re-watering are lacking. Our objectives were to investigate the relationship between photosynthetic characteristics and drought tolerance, and to explore the ability to recover from drought damage in different peanut cultivars.
Methods A pot experiment was conducted with artificial water stress treatment, and the photosynthetic characteristics were determined in twelve peanut cultivars under the conditions of drought stress and re-watering at the seedling stage. The drought tolerance was assessed by drought resistance coefficient of biomass in seedling. The recovery capacity was assessed by compensatory growth of plant.
Important findings Five cultivars, including ‘Shanhua 11’, ‘Rugaoxiyangsheng’, ‘A596’, ‘Shanhua 9’, and ‘Nongda 818’, showed over-compensatory growth after re-watering, and their capacity of compensatory growth had significant positive correlation with drought tolerance (p < 0.01). The net photosynthetic rate (P_n), stomatal conductance (G_s), intercellular CO₂ concentration (C_i), maximum photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m), PSII actual quantum yield (ΦPSII), and photochemical quenching coefficient (q_P) all decreased over the course of drought stress, and then increased following re-watering, with the amplitude of changes being smaller in the more drought tolerant cultivars. Seven days of drought did not result in significant differences in the photosynthetic characteristics among majority of the peanut cultivars tested (p > 0.05). After 14 days of drought, the values of photosynthetic variables differed significantly among the peanut cultivars with different drought tolerance (p < 0.05). The values of P_n, G_s, Φ_PSII, F_v/F_m, and q_P in the cultivars ‘Shanhua 11’, ‘Rugaoxiyangsheng’, ‘A596’, and ‘Shanhua 9’fully recovered five days after re-watering, while those in the cultivars ‘79266’, ‘ICG6848’, ‘Baisha 1016’, and ‘Hua 17’ did not fully recover even after 10 days of re-watering; the values of those photosynthetic variables were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the more drought tolerant cultivars following re-watering. Correlation analysis showed that the drought tolerance was significantly and positively correlated with P_n, Φ_PSII, F_v/F_m, and q_P after 14 days of drought stress and after five days of re-watering, respectively (p < 0.01). Therefore, under drought stress at 40% of relative water content (RWC) for 14 days and after five days of re-watering at the seedling stage, the P_n, Φ_PSII, F_v/F_m, and q_P could be used for identifying the level of damage and recovery capacity of peanut cultivars. The cultivar ‘Shanhua 11’ can be used as a reference for drought adaptability identification in peanut.     

Fine Chloroplast Structure in Cucumber and Pea Leaves Developed under Red Light

Photosynthetic activity, the content of various photosynthetic pigments, and the chloroplast ultrastructure were examined in the leaves of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants of different ages grown under red light (600–700 nm, 100 W/m²). In pea leaves tolerant to red-light irradiation, chloroplast ultrastructure did not essentially change. In the first true leaves of cucumber plants susceptible to red-light irradiation, we observed a considerable increase in the number and size of plastoglobules, the appearance of chloroplasts lacking grana or containing only infrequent grana, and stromal thylakoids. In the upper leaves of 22-day-old cucumber plants, the chloroplast structure was essentially similar to that of the control chloroplasts in white light, and we therefore suppose that these plants have acclimated to red light.     

NaCl和Na2SO4胁迫下两种刺槐叶肉细胞叶绿体超微结构

二倍体刺槐(diploid Robinia pseudoacacia)是我国水土保持林的先锋树种,具有较强的适应性和抗逆性,对改善生态环境、防治水土流失、调节水文状况有重要作用。四倍体刺槐(tetraploid Robinia pseudoacacia)是二倍体刺槐的加倍品种,也称多倍体刺槐,由韩国引进,具有速生、耐盐碱、耐干旱和耐烟尘等特点。目前,关于四倍体刺槐的研究,主要集中于栽培技术和繁殖技术方面,而关于四倍体刺槐叶片超微结构与其耐盐性的关系尚缺乏报道。比较了二倍体刺槐和四倍体刺槐在NaCl和Na₂SO₄胁迫下,叶片叶绿体超微结构的变化特点,一方面可以对二者的耐盐性进行鉴定,同时也可以探讨不同盐分胁迫条件下的作用机制。利用NaCl和Na₂SO₄进行20d的盐胁迫处理,观察叶绿体超微结构的变化特点,发现:NaCl处理前,二者叶肉细胞叶绿体为梭形、形态饱满、结构完整,NaCl处理后10d时,二倍体刺槐的叶绿体出现变形、膜模糊、基粒片层松散、类囊体解体、脂质球增多等现象,NaCl处理后20d时,叶绿体肿胀、变形,基粒片层断裂,膜系统解体。Na₂SO₄处理后10d时,二倍体刺槐的叶绿体肿胀,膜模糊,基粒片层松散、类囊体解体,Na₂SO₄盐胁迫处理后20d时,膜系统全部解体,结构破坏更为严重。总体来说,四倍体刺槐在盐胁迫后叶绿体结构变化不明显,只是在Na₂SO₄处理20d时,四倍体刺槐的叶绿体出现中空、基粒片层松散、膜边缘模糊现象。在处理前,两种刺槐的叶绿体均紧贴细胞壁,分布于细胞壁边缘。在NaCl处理后10d时,二倍体刺槐的叶绿体仍呈有序排列,紧贴细胞壁,但在处理后20d时,大部分叶绿体脱离细胞壁,呈随机分布。在Na₂SO₄处理后10d时,二倍体刺槐部分叶绿体脱离细胞壁,位于细胞中央。在Na₂SO₄处理后20d时,二倍体刺槐叶绿体大部分与细胞壁脱离。四倍体刺槐在两种盐胁迫处理前后叶绿体的排列变化不明显,均分布于细胞壁边缘,紧贴细胞壁。所以在盐胁迫下,耐盐植物叶片的叶绿体表现为结构完整,基粒片层清晰,类囊体结构完整,而不耐盐植物则表现为叶绿体超微结构松散、变形,基粒片层模糊,破坏严重时基粒片层扭曲,叶绿体解体,失去完整结构。     

The EfFect of B9 upon the Structure of Leaves and Chloroplasts in Peanut plant

When peanut plants (Arachis hypogaea L.) were treated with aqueous solution of Bo (2000 ppm) by spraying application, the cells of the assimilating tissue were enlarged and the thickness of the leaves were increased. B9 promoted the development of the chloroplast, so that the number of chloroplast, grana and the lamella were increased. As a result, the volume of the “container” of chlorophyll was enlarged. In addition, the chlorophyll content of file leaves also increased after B9 treatment, there fore the leaves turned dark green.     

小麦黄化突变体叶绿体超微结构研究

利用透射电镜对小麦自然黄化突变体及其突变亲本(西农1718)叶片细胞叶绿体的数目、形态及超微结构进行比较分析。结果发现:(1)3种不同黄化程度突变体的叶绿体分布、数目、形状及大小与突变亲本无明显差异;(2)突变体叶绿素含量为野生型58%的黄绿植株与其突变亲本叶绿体超微结构无明显差异,基质类囊体与基粒类囊体高度分化,基粒数目以及基粒片层数目较多;(3)突变体金黄和绿黄植株的叶绿素含量分别为野生型的17%、24%,其叶绿体超微结构与突变亲本明显不同,突变体的叶绿体发育存在明显缺陷,其中突变体金黄植株的叶绿体内无基粒、基质片层清晰可见,有淀粉粒,嗜锇颗粒较多,而突变体绿黄植株的叶绿体内有基粒,但明显少于突变亲本,且基粒片层较少,基质类囊体较发达。结果表明该黄化突变体叶绿体超微结构的改变,是由于叶绿素含量降低造成,推测,该黄化突变是由于叶绿素合成受阻导致的。     

日光温室光温因子对黄瓜叶绿体超微结构及其功能的影响

在日光温室内,研究了光温因子对黄瓜叶绿体超微结构及其功能的影响．结果表明,因季节之间光、温条件不同,日光温室黄瓜叶片显微结构和叶绿体超微结构有一定差异,1月份光照弱叶肉细胞较大,而5月份光照强叶绿体数较多．在该试验条件下,未发现叶片光合速率与叶绿体超微结构之间有直接或密切的相关性．在各生长季节其光合速率均为第4叶>初展叶>基部叶,与叶龄及各叶位的受光量有关．如果将不同叶位叶放在相同的光照下,则差异明显减少．黄瓜叶片的叶肉细胞、叶绿体和淀粉粒的大小以及叶绿体数、基粒数、基粒厚度、基粒片层数都随叶位的下降而呈增加趋势。不同品种、同品种不同生长时期的叶片显微结构和叶绿体超微结构及其功能也有一定的差异．限制日光温室冬季黄瓜光合作用的主要因素是光照弱、有效光照时数少,而在晴天温度的限制作用相对较小。阴天因光照弱而导致的室内低温则是限制黄瓜生长的关键因素．     

A soluble chloroplast protein catalyzes ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activation in vivo

Ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (EC 4.1.1.39) (rubisco) must be fully activated in order to catalyze the maximum rates of photosynthesis observed in plants. Activation of the isolated enzyme occurs spontaneously, but conditions required to observe full activation are inconsistent with those known to occur in illuminated chloroplasts. Genetic studies with a nutant of Arabidopsis thaliana incapable of activating rubisco linked two chloroplast polypeptides to the activation process in vivo. Using a reconstituted light activation system, it was possible to demonstrate the participation of a chloroplast protein in rubisco activation. These results indicate that a specific chloroplast enzyme, rubisco activase, catalyzes the activation of rubisco in vivo.     

不同光温条件下紫背浮萍叶肉细胞和叶绿体超微结构的研究

以浮萍科紫萍属紫背浮萍为试验材料,利用透射电子显微镜研究了紫背浮萍叶肉细胞和叶绿体的超微结构。结果发现:强光下,紫背浮萍叶肉细胞内的叶绿体数明显增加;弱光时虽然叶绿体数减少,但叶绿体基粒片层结构变厚,增加了光合作用反应面积。与25℃适温条件相比,10℃低温和35℃高温下,紫背浮萍细胞均出现一定程度的逆境胁迫作用。表现在低温时部分叶绿体皱缩成带状,叶肉细胞之间出现较大空隙;高温时叶绿体外膜溶解,基质外渗,脂质小球数量增多。紫背浮萍通过改变细胞内部形态结构的方式来适应不同光强和温度环境条件,对逆境光温条件具有一定的耐受性。     

花粒期光照对夏玉米光合特性和叶绿体超微结构的影响

在大田条件下,以夏玉米品种‘登海605’为试验材料,研究花粒期不同光照强度(正常光照、开花至收获期遮阴和开花至收获期增光)对夏玉米叶片光合、荧光性能和叶绿体超微结构的影响.结果表明:与对照相比,花粒期遮阴影响叶绿体排布及内部结构发育,基粒个数和基粒片层数均有不同程度减少,叶片的净光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度、叶绿素含量下降,PSⅡ反应中心的实际光化学效率和最大光化学效率降低,非光化学淬灭系数数值增加,导致产量降低;增光后叶绿体结构良好,基粒片层排列紧致、清晰且数量增加,PSⅡ反应中心的实际光化学效率增加,净光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度、叶绿素含量上升,叶片光合性能增强,产量增加.即花粒期遮阴破坏了夏玉米叶片叶绿体超微结构,降低了叶片光合能力,产量下降;花粒期增光增加了叶肉细胞中叶绿体的基粒和基粒片层,导致基粒片层排列紧密有序,有利于增加作物产量潜力.     

THE EFFECT OF LIGHT INTENSITY AND TEMPERATURE ON PLANT GROWTH AND CHLOROPLAST ULTRASTRUCTURE IN SOYBEAN

Soybean plants grown in controlled environment cabinets under light intensities of 220 w/m² or 90 w/m² (400–700 nm) and day to night temperatures of 27.5–22.5 C or 20.0–12.5 C in all combinations, exhibited differences in growth rate, leaf anatomy, chloroplast ultrastructure, and leaf starch, chlorophyll, and chloroplast lipid contents. Leaves grown under the lower light intensity at both temperatures had palisade mesophyll chloroplasts containing well-formed grana. The corresponding leaves developed under the higher light intensity had very rudimentary grana. Chloroplasts from high temperature and high light had grana consisting of two or three appressed thylakoids, while grana from the low temperature were confined to occasional thylakoid overlap. Spongy mesophyll chloroplasts were less sensitive to growth conditions. Transfer experiments showed that the ultrastructure of chloroplasts from mature leaves could be modified by changing the conditions, though the effect was less marked than when the leaf was growing.     

盐胁迫下芦苇叶肉细胞超微结构的研究

对青藏高原柴达木盆地柯柯盐湖边盐碱地上生长的芦苇叶肉细胞的超微结构进行了研究,并以西宁地区非盐碱地上生长的芦苇作对照。结果表明：西宁地区的芦苇叶肉细胞的叶绿体呈椭圆形,其膜系统完整,基粒片层和基质片层发育良好。在盐碱地上生长的芦苇叶肉细胞的叶绿体呈圆形,叶绿体内出现较大的淀粉粒,并发现有线粒体嵌入叶绿体的现象。叶绿体的类囊体膨大,线粒体的嵴也有膨大的现象。在盐湖水中生长的芦苇叶肉细胞,叶绿体的类囊体排列紊乱、扭曲、松散。类囊体膜局部被破坏,部分类囊体膜解体,空泡化,甚至消失,一些溶解了的类囊体流进细胞质中。综上所述,芦苇叶肉细胞超微结构的变化是该植物适应柯柯盐湖地区盐渍、低温、低气压、强辐射等环境因子的结果。     

Glyoxylate inhibition of ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activation in intact,lysed, and reconstituted chloroplasts

At bicarbonate concentrations equivalent to air levels of CO₂, activation of ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rubisco) was inhibited by micromolar concentrations of glyoxylate in intact, lysed, and reconstituted chloroplasts and in stromal extracts. The concentration of glyoxylate required for 50% inhibition of light activation in intact chloroplasts was estimated to be 35 micromolar. No direct inhibition by glyoxylate was observed with purified rubisco or rubisco activase at micromolar concentrations. Levels of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate and ATP increased in intact chloroplasts following glyoxylate treatment. Results from experiments with well-buffered lysed and reconstituted chloroplast systems ruled out lowering of pH as the cause of inhibition. With intact chloroplasts, micromolar glyoxylate did not prevent activation of rubisco at high (10 mM) concentrations of bicarbonate, indicating that rubisco could be spontaneously activated in the presence of glyoxylate. These results suggest the existence of a component of the in vivo rubisco activation system that is not yet identified and which is inhibited by glyoxylate.Abbreviations PEP phosphoenolpyruvate - PGA 3-phosphoglycerate - rubisco ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase - RuBP ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate     

Ultrastructural Development of Chloroplasts in Sacred Lotus Embryo Bud under Invisible Light

The present paper reports that the development ultrastructural observations of chloroplasts from sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) embryo buds under invisible light. Embryo bud of sacred lotus is enclosed by three layers of thick integument (pericap, seed coat and thick fleshy cotyledons). During the period of the formation of embryo bud, it remained in dark condition, but turned from pale yellow to bluish-green. It was noteworthy that chloroplasts of the embryo bud had well developed giant grana under invisible light. Their developmental pathway in sacred lotus, however, was different from those of other higher plants grown under sunlight, intermittent light, or even in dark conditions (Fig. 1). The chloroplast development of embryo buds in Sacred lotus seeds in invisible light underwent only in the following three stages: (1) In the first stage the development was similar to that from other higher plants, the inner envelope membranes of the proplastids were invaginating. (2) In the second stage, a proplastid centre composed of prolamellar bodies (PLB)with semicrystalline structure was formed, and was accompanied by one or two huge starch grains in almost each proplastid. In the meantime, prothylakoid membranes extended parallelly from the plastid centre in three forms: (a) One plastid centre extending parallelly prothylakoid membranes from itself in one direction; (b) The same to (a), but extending in two directions; (c) Two plastid centres extending parallelly prothylakoid membranes between the centres. (3) In the third stage, grana and stroma thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts were formed. It is to be noted that most of chloroplasts had only one or two giant grana which often extended across the entire chloroplast body, and the length of the grana thylakoid membranes of the chloroplasts from embryo bud in Sacred lotus is 3 to 5 times as many as that in other higher plants. However, their stromatic thylakoid membranes were rather rare and very short. The giant grana were squeezed to the margin of the chloroplast envelope by one or two huge starch grains.     

Dynamic flexibility in the structure and function of photosystem II in higher plant thylakoid membranes: the grana enigma

Grana are not essential for photosynthesis, yet they are ubiquitous in higher plants and in the recently evolved Charaphyta algae; hence grana role and its need is still an intriguing enigma. This article discusses how the grana provide integrated and multifaceted functional advantages, by facilitating mechanisms that fine-tune the dynamics of the photosynthetic apparatus, with particular implications for photosystem II (PSII). This dynamic flexibility of photosynthetic membranes is advantageous in plants responding to ever-changing environmental conditions, from darkness or limiting light to saturating light and sustained or intermittent high light. The thylakoid dynamics are brought about by structural and organizational changes at the level of the overall height and number of granal stacks per chloroplast, molecular dynamics within the membrane itself, the partition gap between appressed membranes within stacks, the aqueous lumen encased by the continuous thylakoid membrane network, and even the stroma bathing the thylakoids. The structural and organizational changes of grana stacks in turn are driven by physicochemical forces, including entropy, at work in the chloroplast. In response to light, attractive van der Waals interactions and screening of electrostatic repulsion between appressed grana thylakoids across the partition gap and most probably direct protein interactions across the granal lumen (PSII extrinsic proteins OEEp-OEEp, particularly PsbQ-PsbQ) contribute to the integrity of grana stacks. We propose that both the light-induced contraction of the partition gap and the granal lumen elicit maximisation of entropy in the chloroplast stroma, thereby enhancing carbon fixation and chloroplast protein synthesizing capacity. This spatiotemporal dynamic flexibility in the structure and function of active and inactive PSIIs within grana stacks in higher plant chloroplasts is vital for the optimization of photosynthesis under a wide range of environmental and developmental conditions.     

Differential effects of benzyladenine on the ultrastructure of chloroplasts in intact bean leaves according to their age

Summary Primary leaves of intact bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris) were treated with benzyladenine (BA) at different stages of growth. Changes in the ultrastructure of chloroplasts and the contents of chlorophyll, carotenoid, and protein (soluble and insoluble) in leaves with different treatments were followed and compared. When BA was applied from an early stage, it increased the chloroplast size and the number of grana per chloroplast without any pronounced effect on the grana size. When BA treatment was stopped at the early stage, these effects remained for a while and then diminished. When BA treatment was begun at a late stage, such marked effects were not observed, suggesting that only young leaves could respond to BA in that manner. However, the late treatment efficiently prevented the process of the last stage of leaf senescence characterized by disintegration of thylakoids with concomitant increase in the plastoglobule size. Chlorophyll, carotenoid, and insoluble protein contents per leaf followed similar changes in chloroplast length and the number of grana per chloroplast section.