Effect of respiratory homeostasis on plant growth in cultivars of wheat and rice

Some plants have the ability to maintain similar respiratory rates (measured at the growth temperature), even when grown at different temperatures, a phenomenon referred to as respiratory homeostasis. The underlying mechanisms and ecological importance of this respiratory homeostasis are not understood. In order to understand this, root respiration and plant growth were investigated in two wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Stiletto and cv. Patterson) with a high degree of homeostasis, and in one wheat cultivar (T. aestivum L. cv. Brookton) and one rice cultivar (Oryza sativa L. cv. Amaroo) with a low degree of homeostasis. The degree of homeostasis (H) is defined as a quantitative value, which occurs between 0 (no acclimation) and 1 (full acclimation). These plants were grown hydroponically at constant 15 or 25 °C. A good correlation was observed between the rate of root respiration and the relative growth rates (RGR) of whole plant, shoot or root. The plants with high H showed a tendency to maintain their RGR, irrespective of growth temperature, whereas the plants with low H grown at 15 °C showed lower RGR than those grown at 25 °C. Among several parameters of growth analysis, variation in net assimilation rate per shoot mass (NAR_m) appeared to be responsible for the variation in RGR and rates of root respiration in the four cultivars. The plants with high H maintained their NAR_m at low growth temperature, but the plants with low H grown at 15 °C showed lower NAR_m than those grown at 25 °C. It is concluded that respiratory homeostasis in roots would help to maintain growth rate at low temperature due to a smaller decrease in net carbon gain at low temperature. Alternatively, growth rate per se may control the demand of respiratory ATP, root respiration rates and sink demands of photosynthesis. The contribution of nitrogen uptake to total respiratory costs was also estimated, and the effects of a nitrogen leak out of the roots and the efficiency of respiration on those costs are discussed.     

A quick method to screen high and low yielding wheat cultivars exposed to high temperature

In tropical countries, high temperature stress is the major abiotic stress, which controls the productivity and yield of crop plants. Two high yielding and low yielding genotypes of durum wheat were selected for detailed analysis of their photochemical efficiencies. In low yielding genotypes (Malvi local and Sawer local), the whole primary photochemical reactions are affected before and after heat stress. The results show that low yielding genotypes show less efficiency in the usage of the available excitation energy. This is a case study to establish use of chlorophyll a fluorescence measurement as an effective tool to screen plants for their stress tolerance. The study is important for stress physiology and may be useful for assessment of stress tolerant plants.     

Metabolic and ultrastructural changes associated with flooding at low temperature in winter wheat and barley

Cold-hardened winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Fredrick) and winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Dover) were exposed to total flooding at 2 C. Dover seedlings were damaged more quickly than Fredrick, and after 3 weeks of flooding the survival of Dover was reduced to 10% and Fredrick to about 50%. Tissue moisture was slightly greater in Dover than Fredrick throughout the 4-week flooding period. Carbon dioxide and ethanol accumulated throughout the 4-week flooding period in both cultivars. Lactic acid increased rapidly during the 1st week of flooding, and remained relatively constant during the remainder of the flooding period. Oxygen consumption of seedling shoot tissue after exposure to flooding declined abruptly after only 1 day of flooding, but recovered somewhat during the subsequent 2 weeks. The effect of flooding was more pronounced on the ultrastructure of Dover than Fredrick. Although proliferation of endoplasmic reticulum was observed in the early stages of flooding in both cultivars, the occurrence of distinct parallel arrays and concentric whorls of membranes was prevalent in the flooded barley. Severe ultrastructural damage to a large proportion of apical cells in both cultivars was observed after 2 to 3 weeks of flooding.     

Effect of low temperature on chloroplast structure in cultivars of rice

The chloroplasts in cold-susceptive indica varieties and indica? japonica lines swelled and then accumulated excess starchunder low temperature. Disorganization of the thylakoids anddiscoloration of the leaf were also observed. ¹ Home address: Kongju Teacher's College, Choong-Chung Nam Province,301 Korea. (Received April 7, 1979; )     

高产条件下不同小麦品种耗水特性和水分利用效率的差异

设置不灌水(W0)、底墒水+拔节水(W1)、底墒水+拔节水+开花水(W2)3个灌水处理,采用6个冬小麦(Triticum aestivum.L.)品种,研究了不同品种耗水特性和水分利用效率的差异.结果表明:(1)依据籽粒产量和水分利用效率2个因子,采用聚类分析的方法,将供试品种分为高水分利用效率组(Ⅰ组)、中水分利用效率组(Ⅱ组)和低水分利用效率组(Ⅲ组).同一灌水条件下的籽粒产量,Ⅰ组显著高于Ⅱ组和Ⅲ组;Ⅱ组和Ⅲ组在W0条件下无显著差异,在W1和W2条件下Ⅱ组显著高于Ⅲ组.(2)从Ⅰ组、Ⅱ组、Ⅲ组中分别取1个品种,泰山23、潍麦8号、山农12进一步分析表明,在W0 和W1条件下,泰山23和潍麦8号的阶段耗水量和耗水模系数为开花至成熟>播种至拔节>拔节至开花,山农12为播种至拔节>开花至成熟>拔节至开花.W2条件下,3个品种的阶段耗水量和耗水模系数为开花至成熟>播种至拔节>拔节至开花;播种至拔节和拔节至开花的耗水模系数为泰山23>山农12>潍麦8号,此阶段的耗水量和耗水强度为泰山23品种最高;开花至成熟的耗水模系数为潍麦8号>山农12 >泰山23,此阶段的耗水量和耗水强度为泰山23品种最低.(3) 在W0 和W1条件下,总耗水量和灌水量、降水量及土壤耗水量占总耗水量的百分率为泰山23品种居中;W2条件下,灌水量和降水量占总耗水量的百分率为泰山23>潍麦8号>山农12,土壤耗水量及其占总耗水量的百分率反之,但泰山23的总耗水量最低.(4) 同一灌水条件下,泰山23品种100～200cm土层的土壤耗水量高于潍麦8号,表明该品种能充分利用深层土壤水;山农12品种在W0和W2条件下,100～200 cm土层的土壤耗水量高于泰山23和潍麦8号,但其籽粒产量和水分利用效率显著低于上述两品种.     

不同氮效率水稻生育后期根表和根际土壤硝化特征

通过田间试验研究了不同氮效率粳稻品种4007(氮高效)和Elio(氮低效)生育后期在N0(0 kgN hm-2)、N180(180 kgN hm-2)和N300(300 kgN hm-2)水平下根表、根际和土体土壤pH值、铵态氮(NH+4-N)和硝态氮(NO-3-N)含量、硝化强度和氨氧化细菌(AOB)数量.结果表明无论是齐穗期、灌浆期还是成熟期,根表土壤pH值均显著低于根际和土体土壤.土壤pH值范围在5.95至6.84之间变化.土壤NH+4-N含量随水稻生长显著下降,且随施氮量增加而显著增加.根表土壤NH+4-N有明显亏缺区,且随距水稻根表距离增加,NH+4-N含量逐渐升高.土壤NO-3-N含量随水稻生长显著增加,施氮处理均显著高于不施氮处理,但N180和N300处理差异不显著.NO-3-N含量表现为根际>土体>根表.水稻根表和根际土壤硝化强度随水稻生长显著下降,而土体土壤硝化强度随时间延长小幅增加.施氮显著提高4007水稻根表土壤在齐穗和收获期硝化强度以及Elio在齐穗期根际硝化强度,但在施氮处理N180和N300中无显著差异.在整个采样期间,土壤硝化强度均表现为根际>根表>土体.水稻根表和根际AOB数量随水稻生长而显著降低,而土体土壤AOB数量无显著变化.例如,根表土壤AOB数量在齐穗期、灌浆期和收获期分别为16.7×105、8.77×105个g-1 dry soil和8.01×105个g-1 dry soil.根表和根际土壤AOB数量无显著差异,但二者显著高于土体土壤AOB数量.就两个氮效率水稻品种而言,土壤pH值基本无差异.4007土壤NH+4-N含量均显著高于Elio.在齐穗期水稻根表、根际和土体土壤NO-3-N含量在N180水平下均表现为Elio显著高于4007.而在灌浆期和收获期,水稻根表、根际和土体土壤则表现为4007显著高于Elio.在所有采样期,两个水稻品种土体土壤硝化强度和AOB数量在3个施氮量下均无显著差异.Elio根表和根际土壤硝化强度和AOB数量在水稻灌浆期之前一直显著高于4007,而在灌浆期之后则显著低于4007,且最终产量和氮素利用率(NUE)显著低于4007,这可能是由于4007灌浆期后硝化作用强,根际产生的NO-3-N含量高,从而4007根吸收NO-3-N的量也高造成的.因此水稻灌浆期和收获期根表和根际硝化作用以及AOB与水稻高产及氮素高效利用密切相关.     

Increase in respiratory cost at high growth temperature is attributed to high protein turnover cost in Petunia x hybrida petals

It is widely believed that turnover of nitrogenous (N) compounds (especially proteins) incurs a high respiratory cost. Thus, if protein turnover costs change with temperature, this would influence the dependence of respiration rate on growth temperature. Here, we examined the extent to which protein turnover cost explained differences in N-utilization costs (nitrate uptake/reduction, ammonium assimilation, amino acid and protein syntheses, protein turnover and amino acid export) and in respiration rate with changes in growth temperature. By measurements and literature data, we evaluated each N-utilization cost in Petunia x hybrida petals grown at 20, 25 or 35 degrees C throughout their whole lifespans. Protein turnover cost accounted for 73% of the integrated N-utilization cost on a whole-petal basis at 35 degrees C. The difference in this cost on a dry weight basis between 25 and 35 degrees C accounted for 75% of the difference in N-utilization cost and 45% of the difference in respiratory cost. The cost of nitrate uptake/reduction was high at low growth temperatures. We concluded that respiratory cost in petals was strongly influenced by protein turnover and nitrate uptake/reduction, and on the shoot basis, C investment in biomass was highest at 25 degrees C.     

Response of photosynthetic apparatus to moderate high temperature in contrasting wheat cultivars at different oxygen concentrations

The photosynthetic responses to moderately high temperatures (38 degrees C, imposed at 21% or 2% O(2) in air and 1500 mumol m(-2) s(-1)) were compared in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars grown in northern regions of Ukraine and expected to be relatively sensitive to high temperatures ('North' cultivars) and in cultivars grown in southern regions and expected to be relatively heat-tolerant ('South' cultivars). Heating intact leaves in 21% O(2) for 1 h decreased CO(2) assimilation by c. 63% in 'North' cultivars and only c. 32% in 'South' cultivars, with a decrease in PSII activity being observed in only one of the 'North' cultivars. Carboxylation efficiency was decreased by about 2.7-fold in 'North' cultivars with no significant effect in 'South' cultivars. The maximum rates of carboxylation by Rubisco in vivo, V(cmax), estimated from Farquhar's model, increased more than 2-fold in 'South' cultivars and remained unchanged in 'North' cultivars while the maximum rate of RuBP regeneration, J(max), decreased by 53% and 21% in 'North' and 'South' cultivars, respectively. Where the heat treatment was imposed in 2% O(2) this increased (as compared with treatment at 21% O(2)) the inhibitory effect on CO(2) assimilation in tolerant cultivars, but decreased it in sensitive ones. The results suggested that differences in tolerance of moderately high temperatures in wheat relate to the stability of the Rubisco function and to RuBP regeneration activity rather than to the effects on PSII activity or stomatal control.     

Reduced growth of autumn-sown wheat in a low-P soil is associated with high colonisation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Autumn-sown wheat (Triticum aestivum) was studied over two seasons in south-eastern Australia, on a low-P soil where indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were known to provide little nutritional benefit to crops. It was hypothesised that AMF would be parasitic under these circumstances. Shoot dry mass and water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) reserves in roots and shoots were measured for wheat grown with or without P-fertiliser, in plots where crop sequences had produced either high or low colonisation by AMF. Application of P-fertiliser greatly increased crop growth and decreased colonisation by AMF. At tillering, colonisation by AMF ranged from 24 to 66% of root length when no P was applied and from 11 to 32% when P was applied. At each P-level, high colonisation correlated with reductions of around 20% in stem and root WSC concentrations (first season) or shoot WSC content and shoot dry mass (much drier second season). Impacts on yield were not significant (first season) or largely masked by water-stress and frost (second season). While the major fungal root diseases of the region were absent, interactions between crop sequence and other unknown biotic constraints could not be discounted. The results are consistent with the parasitic impacts of colonisation by AMF being induced primarily through the winter conditions experienced by the crops until anthesis. It is concluded that wheat in south-eastern Australia may benefit from reduced colonisation by AMF, which could achieved through selected crop sequences or, perhaps, targeted wheat breeding programs.     

黑龙江省水稻空壳率与孕穗期低温的关系

对黑龙江省6个主要水稻品种(龙稻3号、垦稻12号、空育131、龙稻7号、龙粳16号和松粳6号)进行孕穗期低温(处理温度分别为15℃、17℃、19℃,低温持续时间分别为2、4、6和8d)处理,采用线性内插和统计回归方法,分析了水稻单穗空壳率与孕穗期低温的关系.结果表明:研究区敏感性水稻品种和耐冷性较强水稻品种的障碍型冷害临界温度分别为17℃和16℃;孕穗期水稻对低温最敏感的时期为抽穗前14～18d.15℃低温处理8d时,松粳6号、垦稻12号的空壳率明显增加,空育131空壳率小幅升高,表明松粳6号和垦稻12号对低温反应较敏感、耐冷性较弱,而空育131对低温反应迟钝,耐冷性较强;垦稻12号、龙粳16号、空育131的冷积温与空壳率存在显著的相关关系(P0.01),随着冷积温的增加,水稻空壳率明显升高,但品种间的增幅不同.     

Adaptation potential of photosynthesis in wheat cultivars with a capability of leaf rolling under high temperature conditions

For the first time, the adaptive role of the rolling leaf trait for tolerance of wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.) to the main factor of drought, high temperature, was demonstrated. Cv. Otan with high degree of this trait expression was more tolerant to temperature stress (40°C, 4 h during 2 days (2h/day)). Changes in parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence, F _v/F _m and R _Fd690, suggest that cv. Otan was tolerant to inhibition of photochemical activities of photosystem II (PSII) and photosystem I (PSI). Furthermore, high temperature had no effect on the rate of net photosynthesis (P _N) in cv. Otan, although it decreased this parameter in the other wheat cultivars. The main factors, which provid for this tolerance, were adaptation of the photosynthetic pigment system by active accumulation of carotenoids, more stable structural organization of PSII and PSI, and their high photosynthetic activities, as well as efficient stomatal regulation of transpiration and supplying of mesophyll cells with CO₂. It is hypothesized that the physiological role of the rolling leaf trait is the maintenance of adaptation potential by increasing the efficiency of water metabolism in the flag leaves of wheat under high temperature.     

Relationship of photosynthetic efficiency and seed-setting rate in two contrasting rice cultivars under chilling stress

Low temperature during the vegetative stage affects rice (Oryza sativa L.) seed-setting rate in Heilongjiang province at Northeast China. However, little is known about changes of the photosynthetic rate and physiological response in contrasting rice cultivars during chilling periods. In this study, two rice cultivars with different chilling tolerance were treated with 15°C from June 27 to July 7. The chilling-susceptive cultivar, Longjing11 (LJ11), showed a significant decrease in a ripening rate and seed-setting rate after being treated for four days, whilst chilling-tolerant cultivar, Kongyu131 (KY131), was only slightly affected after 4-d treatment. The photosynthetic activities, chlorophyll contents, and antioxidative enzyme activities in LJ11 decreased significantly along with the chilling treatment. The decrease in ß-carotene contents might play a role as it could cause direct photooxidation of chlorophylls and lead to the inhibition of the photosynthetic apparatus. In the meantime, no significant damage was found in leaves of KY131 from June 27 to July 11. In conclusion, the chilling-tolerance mechanism of rice is tightly related to the photosynthetic rate, metabolism of reactive oxygen species, and scavenging system in the vegetative stage.     

Recovery of maize seedling growth, development and photosynthetic efficiency after initial growth at low temperature

In order to investigate the mechanisms of maize adaptation to temperate climate, we studied photosynthetic efficiency, as evaluated by means of phiPSII and chloroplast ultrastructure, as well as growth and development of two inbred lines (the chilling-tolerant KW 1074 and the chilling-sensitive CM 109) under laboratory conditions. Plants were grown from seed to the 3rd leaf stage at a suboptimal temperature (14 degrees C/ 12 degrees C) and then the temperature was increased to 24 degrees C/22 degrees C. To verify the results obtained with the two model lines, twelve inbred lines were tested under both laboratory and field conditions. Initial growth at low temperature affected the chloroplast ultrastructure and photosynthetic efficiency, and this was more pronounced in CM 109 than in KW 1074 plants. The differences between the two lines were particularly pronounced in leaf 5. One week after the onset of favourable conditions, mesophyll chloroplast grana in the CM 109 line were small and thylakoids were developed only poorly. Also, thylakoids in bundle sheath chloroplasts were less frequent in CM 109 than in KW 1074. However, two weeks after the temperature increase, the ultrastructure of chloroplasts of the 5th leaf no longer differed distinctly between the two lines. One should note that in both lines, only the 7th and younger leaves reached a chloroplast ultrastructure and phiPSII indistinguishable from those of control plants. In general, the recovery of photosynthetic efficiency followed the development of leaves. It was delayed in the CM 109 more than in the KW 1074 inbred line relative to control plants grown continuously at the optimal temperature. The growth difference of 2-3 days between the two lines persisted even after the growth temperature was elevated. This suggested that the primary factor responsible for the different chilling-sensitivities of the two model lines was leaf development and the differences in development of the photosynthetic apparatus had only a secondary role. The delay in leaf development appeared as early as the stage of the 1st leaf. The same delay was observed when only the shoot apex was cooled. The importance for further recovery of the early stages of morphogenesis was confirmed by a correlation of Laboratory and field data that were obtained using a set of 12 inbred lines. Our results suggest that early stages of shoot morphogenesis determine the duration of the vegetative phase in cool regions, since the delay in growth at a low temperature cannot be compensated for during later growth at a higher temperature.     

Selection of RAPD marker for growth of seedlings at low temperature in rice.

We have developed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay that could effectively reduce the time period required to screen and select the cold tolerance gene of rice seedlings under field conditions. The two specific random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fragments for the assay were identified on the basis of quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis which were found to be tightly linked to cold sensitivity. The two RAPD fragments, OPT8(600) in the cold sensitivity rice cultivar 'Dular (indica)' and OPU20(1200) in the resistance rice cultivar 'Toyohatamochi (japonica)', were identified after screening 11 RAPD fragments using 2 random primers on the genomic DNAs of 'Dular' and 'Toyohatamochi'. These primers, when used in a multiplexed PCR, specifically amplified a 0.6 kb and a 1.2 kb fragment in the sensitive and resistant rice cultivars, respectively. When this assay was performed on the genomic DNAs of 16 japonica, 3 Tongil (indica/ japonica), and 2 indica rice cultivars, the primers amplified a 0.6 kb fragment in all of the cold sensitivity rice cultivars or 1.2 kb fragment in all of the resistance ones. These markers can be of potential use in the marker-assisted selection (MAS) for cold tolerance in rice seedling. As screening for resistance can now be conducted independent of the availability of low temperature, the breeding of cold tolerance cultivars can be hastened.     

Comparative physiological and proteomic response to abrupt low temperature stress between two winter wheat cultivars differing in low temperature tolerance

Abrupt temperature reduction in winter wheat at either autumn seedling stage prior to vernalisation or early spring crown stage can cause severe crop damage and reduce production. Many studies have reported the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying cold acclimation in winter wheat by comparing it with spring wheat. However, processes associated with abrupt temperature reduction in autumn seedling stage prior to vernalisation in winter wheat are less understood. In this study, physiological and molecular responses of winter wheat seedlings to abrupt low temperature (LT) stress were characterised in the relatively LT‐tolerant winter wheat cultivar Shixin 828 by comparing it with the relatively LT‐sensitive cultivar Shiluan 02‐1 using a combination of physiological, proteomics and biochemical approaches. Shixin 828 was tolerant to abrupt LT stress, while Shiluan 02‐1 exhibited high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and leaf cell death. Significant increases in relative abundance of antioxidant‐related proteins were found in Shixin 828 leaves, which correlate with observed higher antioxidant enzyme activity in Shixin 828 compared to Shiluan 02‐1. Proteomics analysis also indicated that carbohydrate metabolism‐related proteins were more abundant in Shiluan 02‐1, correlating with observed accumulation of soluble sugars in Shiluan 02‐1 leaves. Amino acid analysis revealed a strong response to LT stress in wheat leaves. A negative effect of exogenous sucrose on LT tolerance was also found. This study indicates that high ROS scavenging capacity and high abundance of photosynthesis‐related proteins might play a role in winter wheat response to abrupt LT stress. In contrast, excess accumulation of soluble sugars might be disadvantageous for LT tolerance in the wheat cultivar Shiluan 02‐1.     

Relationship between tissue plasminogen activator production and specific growth rate in Chinese Hamster Ovary cells cultured in mannose at low temperature

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, producing human recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), were grown with mannose (5, 20 and 40 mM) instead of glucose at 31, 33 and 37°C. The highest tPA concentration (1.5 mg l⁻¹ at 144 h of cultivation) and tPA specific production rate (47 ng 10⁻⁶ cell h⁻¹) were obtained at 31°C and 40 mM mannose. Regardless of the temperature or mannose concentration used, an inverse relationship between the specific growth rate and tPA specific production rate was observed, suggesting that tPA production rate would be directly controlled by the growth rate.     

高蛋白和低蛋白型小麦花后氮素的同化特性

为了解小麦花后介质氮素输入籽粒的同化途径,在不同发育时期不同施氮水平下,采用GS抑制剂(草丁膦)和15N示踪结合,研究了高低籽粒蛋白两种类型品种花后介质氮素的同化特征.结果表明,叶片GS抑制剂处理使豫麦47穗中的NDFF(氮含量中来自介质N的百分比)显著升高,豫麦50则显著降低;穗部GS抑制剂处理使豫麦47叶中的NDFF上升,而豫麦50(开花期)低氮处理上升、高氮处理下降.花后豫麦47的介质N同化量远大于豫麦50,同化介质N的主要器官为根茎,根茎∶叶∶穗的花后介质氮同化量之比约为4∶1∶2;而豫麦50的主要同化器官则为叶片,根茎∶叶∶穗之比约为1∶5∶1.随施N量的增加,豫麦47叶片花后介质N同化量增加,豫麦50则减少;且豫麦47叶片花后同化介质N的输出量显著小于籽粒花后介质N的同化量,而豫麦50叶片花后介质氮的输出量显著大于籽粒介质N的同化量.说明不同类型小麦品种花后N素由根系到籽粒的代谢同化途径具有显著差异,高蛋白品种豫麦47花后由根系流向籽粒的氮素可以不经叶片直接到达籽粒,低蛋白品种豫麦50则必须经过叶片才能到达籽粒.     

Photosynthetic response of different pea cultivars to low and high temperature treatments

The thermo-sensitivity of two new pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivars—Afila (mutant in the gene transforming leaves into mustaches) and Ranen (mutant for early ripening)—as compared to the control cultivar Pleven-4 to either low (4 °C, T₄) or high temperature (38 °C, T₃₈) was investigated by means of chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence kinetics. The low temperature treatment decreased the photosynthetic activity, measured via a decline of the Chl fluorescence decrease ratios R_Fd690 and R_Fd735, and this was mainly due to a decline of the Chl fluorescence decrease parameter F_d and maximum Chl fluorescence F_m. In the new cv. Ranen the R_Fd ratios at first decreased and increased again after 24-h exposure to 4 °C, indicating its good acclimation ability to low temperature. The cold-induced changes in the photosynthetic performance of all cultivars were reversed after transferring plants back to 23 °C for 48 h. In the Chl and carotenoid (Car) contents no or little changes occurred during the T₄ treatment, except for a slight but clear increase of the ratio Chl a/b and a decrease in the ratio Chl/Car. In contrast to this, the T₃₈ treatment for 72 h decreased the R_Fd ratios more strongly than the T₄ exposure did. In fact, an irreversible injury of the photosynthetic apparatus was caused in the control pea cv. Pleven-4 by a 48-h T₃₈ exposure and for the new cv. Afila after a 72-h T₃₈ exposure. In contrast, the cv. Ranen was less and little sensitive to the T₃₈ exposure. In the heat-sensitive cvs. Pleven-4 and Afila, the decrease in R_Fd values at T₃₈ was associated with a strong decline of the Chl a+b and total Car contents. The Chl a+b decline could also be followed via an increase of the Chl fluorescence ratio F₆₉₀/F₇₃₅. Parallel to this, a strong decline of Chl a/b from ca. 3.0 (range 2.85–3.15) to ca. 1.9 (range 1.85–1.95) occurred indicating a preferential decline of the Chl a-pigment proteins but not of the Chl a/b-pigment protein LHC2. In the relatively heat-tolerant cv. Ranen, however, the ratio Chl a/b declined only partially. After the T₄ treatment the stress adaptation index Ap was higher in cv. Ranen than in controls and reached in heat-treated Ranen plants almost the starting value indicating a cold and heat stress hardening of the treated plants. The Chl fluorescence parameters and pigment contents were influenced by T₃₈ and T₄ treatments in various ways indicating that the mechanisms of low and high temperature injury of the photosynthetic apparatus are different. The new cv. Ranen exhibited a cross tolerance showing a fairly good acclimation ability to both T₄ and T₃₈, hence it is a very suitable plant for outdoor growth and for clarification of the acclimation mechanisms to unfavourable temperatures.     

The photosynthetic properties of rice leaves treated with low temperature and high irradiance

Photosynthetic characteristics in rice (Oryza sativa L.) leaves were examined after treatment with low temperature (15 degrees C) and high irradiance (1,500 micromol quanta m(-2) s(-1)). Decreases in quantum efficiencies in PSII (PhiPSII) and PSI (PhiPSI) and in the rate of CO2 assimilation were observed with a decrease in the maximal quantum efficiency of PSII (F(v)/F(m)) by simultaneous measurements of Chl fluorescence, P700+ absorbance and gas exchange. The decreases in PhiPSII were most highly correlated with those in CO2 assimilation. Although the initial (the activity immediately measured upon extraction) and total (the activity following pre-incubation with CO2 and Mg2+) activities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) decreased slightly, the maximal activity (the activity following treatment with SO4(2-)) of Rubisco remained almost constant. These results indicate that the decrease in CO2 assimilation rate with the decreasing F(v)/F(m) was not caused by a decrease in Rubisco activity but rather by a decrease in RuBP regeneration capacity which resulted from the decrease in the rate of the linear electron transport. On the other hand, the decrease in PhiPSI was very small and the ratio of PhiPSI to PhiPSII increased. The de-epoxidation state of xanthophyll cycle pigments also increased. Thus, the cyclic electron transport around PSI occurred in photoinhibited leaves.