Reduction in chlorophyll content without a corresponding reduction in photosynthesis and carbon assimilation enzymes in yellow-green oil yellow mutants of maize

The photosynthetic properties of a yellow lethal mutant, Oy/oy, and two yellow-green mutants of maize which are allelic (a homozygous recessive oy/oy and a heterozygous dominant Oy/+) were examined. Although Oy/oy had little or no chlorophyll or capacity for CO₂ fixation compared to normal siblings, it had 28% as much ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase (Rubisco) activity, and from 40% to near normal activities of C₄ cycle enzymes.Both yellow-green mutants had only half as much chlorophyll per leaf area as normal green seedlings in greenhouse-grown plants in winter and spring. However, the absorbance of light by the mutants was relatively high, as their transmittance was only 5 to 8% greater than normal leaves. In winter-grown greenhouse plants, the activities of Rubisco and several C₄ cycle enzymes in the mutants were unaffected and similar to those of normal seedlings on a leaf area basis. After allowing for small differences in leaf absorbance, the light response curves for photosynthesis in the mutants were similar on a leaf area basis but much higher on a chlorophyll basis than those of the normal seedlings. In spring-grown greenhouse plants the enzyme activities and photosynthesis rates were about 30% lower per leaf area in the yellow-green mutant leaves compared to the wild type. The maximum carboxylation efficiency (measured under low CO₂ and 1000 mol quanta m^-2 s^-1) in the mutants and normal leaves was similar on a Rubisco protein basis. The results indicate that maize can undergo a 50% reduction in chlorophyll content without a corresponding reduction in enzymes of carbon assimilation, and still maintain a high capacity for photosynthesis.Abbreviations Chl chlorophyll - PEP phosphoenolypruvate - Rubisco ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase This research was supported by CSIRO and by USDA Competitive Grant 86-CRCR-1-2036.     

Photosynthetic Units

Leaf tissues of aurea mutants of tobacco and Lespedeza have been shown to have higher photosynthetic capacity per molecule of chlorophyll, a higher saturation intensity, a simpler lamellar structure, and the same quantum yield as their dark green parents. Here we report on the values of photosynthetic units for both types of plants and some algae. The unit has been assumed to be about as uniform and steady in the plant world as the quantum efficiency. The number on which all theoretical discussions have been based so far is 2400 per O₂ evolved or CO₂ reduced. With dark green plants and algae our determinations of units by means of 40 µsec flashes superimposed on a steady rate of background photosynthesis at 900 ergs cm^-2 sec^-1 of red light yielded mostly numbers between 2000 and 2700. However, the photosynthetic unit turned out to be very variable, even in these objects. In aurea mutants the unit was distinctly smaller, averaging 600 chl/CO₂. By choosing the right combination of colors for flash and background light, units as low as 300 chl/CO₂ or 40 chl/e^- could be measured consistently. We found five well-defined groups of units composed of multiples of its smallest member. These new findings are discussed in terms of structural entities that double or divide under the influence of far-red light.     

3个玉米黄叶突变体的光合特性研究

在农业生产中光合作用是作物积累生物量的主要方式,其主要依赖于多种光合色素和完整的叶绿体结构与功能。而玉米叶色突变体对于研究叶绿体发育、提高玉米光合作用能力和产量具有重要意义。以两个玉米自交系郑58(Z58)和B73为对照,对从甲基磺酸乙酯(ethyl methanesulphonate,EMS)处理后的不同玉米诱变群体中筛选到的2株黄叶突变体yl-1(yellow leaf-1,Z58背景)、yl-2(yellow leaf-2,B73背景)以及从玉米自交系Z58中发现的1株自然黄叶突变体yl-3(yellow leaf-3)等3个表型相似的玉米黄叶突变体的形态特征、光合色素含量、叶绿素合成前体物质含量进行了比较研究。结果表明,与对照相比,3个突变体在整个生长周期内均呈现不同程度的黄叶表型、不复绿、植株矮小、发育迟缓;叶片总叶绿素、叶绿素a和叶绿素b含量均显著降低(P<0.05),叶绿素a/叶绿素b比值显著升高(P<0.05);不同突变体的各类叶绿素合成前体物质含量有不同程度的降低。3个突变体的黄叶表型可能是由不同基因的突变导致相关四吡咯化合物合成异常引起的。研究结果为定位...     

光强对苗期烤烟光合作用及干物质生产的影响

以烤烟云烟87为材料,研究了不同光照强度(100%、88%、72%、62%自然光强)对苗期烤烟光合作用及干物质生产的影响.结果表明:烟苗在晴天中午100%自然光强下会产生光合抑制现象,适度遮光(88%自然光强)会消除光抑制,其日光合总量显著高于其他处理.遮光降低了烟苗光饱和点和光补偿点,增加了表观量子效率和弱光时的净光合速率,提高了叶绿素a和叶绿素b含量,降低了叶绿素a/b和类胡萝卜素含量.在88%自然光强下,烟苗具有较高的光饱和点和较低的光补偿点,对光照变化的适应性较强,其光合同化潜力有所提高.100%自然光强处理更有利于干物质和可溶性总糖向茎部转移,88%自然光强处理更有利于干物质和可溶性总糖向根部转移.在本试验条件下,苗期适当遮光(88%自然光强)可以提高烟苗的成苗素质.     

一个番茄EMS叶色黄化突变体的叶绿素含量及光合作用

本试验以测序番茄品种‘Heinz 1706’的甲基磺酸乙酯(EMS)诱变所获得的叶色黄化突变体(Y55)为试材,分析了突变体的植株生长、叶片叶绿素含量及光合参数.结果表明: Y55的株高、茎粗、鲜质量均显著降低;叶绿素 a、叶绿素 b 、类胡萝卜素、总叶绿素含量以及叶绿素 a/b均显著降低,Y55叶绿素合成的前体物质含量均显著低于野生型,尤其是粪卟啉原Ⅲ及其后前体物质;且Y55叶片净光合速率、蒸腾速率、胞间CO₂浓度、气孔导度均显著低于野生型,最大光合速率、CO₂饱和点与补偿点、光饱和点与补偿点也显著下降;Y55的PSII最大量子效率显著降低,F_o显著升高,PSII与PSI的光合电子产量和电子传递速率显著降低;Y55处于基态的捕光色素分子、捕光色素分子处于最低激发态的平均寿命均显著降低.表明粪卟啉原Ⅲ的合成受阻可能是黄化突变体Y55叶绿素含量下降的主要原因,黄化突变降低了叶片捕光色素分子数量,影响了叶片的光合作用,进而抑制了植株的生长发育.     

Pigment Composition and Photosynthetic Activity of Pea Chlorophyll Mutants

Pea chlorophyll mutants chlorotica 2004 and 2014 have been studied. The mutants differ from the initial form (pea cultivar Torsdag) in stem and leaf color (light green in the mutant 2004 and yellow-green in the mutant 2014), relative chlorophyll content (approximately 80 and 50%, respectively), and the composition of carotenoids: the mutant 2004 contains a significantly smaller amount of carotene but accumulates more lutein and violaxanthin; in the mutant 2014, the contents of all carotenoids are decreased proportionally to the decrease in chlorophyll content. It is shown that the rates of CO₂ assimilation and oxygen production by mutant chlorotica 2004 and 2014 plants are reduced. The quantum efficiency of photosynthesis in the mutants is 29–30% lower than in the control plants; in their hybrids, however, it is 1.5–2 times higher. It is proposed that both the greater role of dark respiration in gas exchange and the reduced photosynthetic activity in chlorotica mutants are responsible for the decreased phytomass increment in these plants. On the basis of these results, the conclusion is drawn that mutations chlorotica 2004 and 2014 affect the genes controlling the formation and functioning of various components of the photosynthetic apparatus.     

Gene cloning and functional analysis of yellow green leaf3 (ygl3) gene during the whole-plant growth stage in rice

Chlorophyll is an important photosynthetic pigment in the process of photosynthesis in plants and photosynthetic bacteria. Genes involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis in Arabidopsis and photosynthetic bacteria have been well documented. In rice, however, these genes have not been fully annotated. In this paper, a yellow-green leaf gene, yellow green leaf3 (ygl3) was cloned and analyzed. ygl3 encodes magnesium chelation ChlD (D) subunit, a key enzyme for chlorophyll synthesis, resulting in a yellow-green leaf phenotype in all growth stages in rice. Expression content of ygl3 is highest in the leaf blades, followed by the leaf sheaths, while there is virtually no expression of the gene in the stems and seeds. The sub-cellular structure and protein content of the photosynthetic system of the ygl3 mutant were revealed by transmission electron microscopy, BN-PAGE, and western blotting. The results show that the mutation of the ygl3 gene indirectly leads to a decrease in the protein content of the photosynthetic system and severely obstructs the formation of granum thylakoids.     

Relationships between the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and plant pigment indices at different leaf growth stages

This study aimed to evaluate the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) for assessing plant photosynthetic performance throughout the plant life cycle. The relationships between PRI, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and leaf pigment indices in Solanum melongena L. (aubergine; eggplant) were studied using photosynthetic induction curves both in short-term (diurnal) and long-term (seasonal) periods under different light intensities. We found good correlations between PRI/non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and PRI/electron transport rate (ETR) in the short term at the same site of a single leaf but these relationships did not hold throughout the life of the plant. In general, changes in PRI owing to NPQ or ETR variations in the short term were <20?% of those that occurred with leaf aging. Results also showed that PRI was highly correlated to plant pigments, especially chlorophyll indices measured by spectral reflectance. Moreover, relationships of steady-state PRI/ETR and steady-state PRI/photochemical yield of photosystem II (Φ(PSII)) measured at uniform light intensity at different life stages proved that overall photosynthesis capacity and steady-state PRI were better correlated through chlorophyll content than NPQ and xanthophylls. The calibrated PRI index accommodated these pigments effects and gave better correlation with NPQ and ETR than PRI. Further studies of PRI indices based on pigments other than xanthophylls, and studies on PRI mechanisms in different species are recommended.     

叶角、光呼吸和热耗散协同作用减轻大豆幼叶光抑制

研究了大豆叶片逐步展开过程中的色素组成、气体交换、荧光动力学以及叶片角度等特性。随着叶片展开程度的增加 ,叶绿素含量和叶绿素 a/ b比值增加 ;光合速率 (Pn)也增加 ,揭示叶片展开过程中光合机构是逐步完善的。自然状态下 ,不同展开程度的叶片均未发生明显的光抑制 ;但将叶片平展并暴露在 12 0 0μmol/ (m2 · s)光下时幼叶发生严重的光抑制 ,伴随叶面积的增加光抑制程度减轻。强光下 ,尽管幼叶光呼吸 (Pr)的测定值较低 ,但幼叶光呼吸与总光合之比 (Pr/ Pm)较高。将叶片平展置于强光下时 ,幼叶的实际光化学效率 (ΦPSII)明显下调 ,非光化学猝灭 (NPQ)大幅增加 ;幼叶叶黄素库较大 ,光下积累较多的脱环氧化组分 ,揭示幼叶依赖叶黄素循环的热耗散增强。自然条件下测量叶片角度 ,观察到在叶片展开过程中叶柄夹角逐渐增加 ;日动态过程中幼叶的悬挂角随光强增加而明显减小 ,完全展开叶的悬挂角变化幅度很小。叶片角度的变化使实际照射到幼叶叶表的光强减少。推测较强的光呼吸、依赖叶黄素循环的热耗散以及较大的叶角变化可能是自然状态下幼叶未发生严重光抑制的原因     

CO(2) Assimilation and Activities of Photosynthetic Enzymes in High Chlorophyll Fluorescence Mutants of Maize Having Low Levels of Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase

Photosynthetic properties were examined in several hcf (high chlorophyll fluorescence 11, 21, 42 and 45) nuclear recessive mutants of maize which were previously found to have normal photochemistry and low CO₂ fixation. Mutants usually either died after depletion of seed reserves (about 18 days after planting), or survived with slow growth up to 7 or 8 weeks. Both the activity and quantity of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco) were low in the mutants (5-25% of the normal siblings on a leaf area basis) and the loss of Rubisco tended to parallel the reduction in photosynthetic capacity. The Rubisco content in the mutants was often marginal for photosynthetic carbon gain, with some leaves and positions along a leaf having no net photosynthesis, while other leaves had a low carbon gain. Conversely, the activities of C₄ cycle enzymes, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, pyruvate, Pi dikinase, NADP-malate dehydrogenase, and NADP-malic enzyme, were the same or only slightly reduced compared to the normal siblings. The mutants had about half as much chlorophyll content per leaf area as the normal green plants. However, the Rubisco activity in the mutants was low on both a leaf area and chlorophyll basis. Low Rubisco activity and lower chlorophyll content may both contribute to the low rates of photosynthesis in the mutants on a leaf area basis.     

Photosynthetic metabolism and cell-wall polysaccharide accumulation inGelidium sesquipedale (Clem.) Born. et Thur. under different light qualities

The influence of different light qualities on the photosynthetic rate, dark respiration, intracellular carbon and nitrogen content, and accumulation of photosynthetic pigments and cell-wall polysaccharides during short-term incubation (5 h) of the red algaGelidium sesquipedale was investigated. The same photon irradiance of 50mol m^–2 s^–2 below the light saturation point of photosynthesis was applied in each case. Blue light stimulated photosynthesis, dark respiration and the accumulation of chlorophyll and biliproteins, phycoerythrin in particular. The accumulation of internal carbon and nitrogen was greater under blue light than under the other light qualities. In contrast, the percentage of cell-wall polysaccharides was higher in red light. The content of cell-wall polysaccharides decreased during the time of incubation in all light treatments except in red light. The action of a non-photosynthetic photoreceptor in the control of cell-wall polysaccharide synthesis is suggested because the accumulation of cell-wall polysaccharides was not correlated with net photosynthesis in contrast to what occurred with carbon, chlorophyll and phycoerythrin accumulation.     

不同光照强度对西洋参光合特性,营养成分和产量的影响

在２１．６％自然光强下生长的西洋参叶片,光合作用的光饱和点和光补偿点皆比１１％自然光强下的高．在恒定条件下,光合作用最适温度为２８℃．２１．６％自然光强下的光合产物,较多地分配到根部,１１％自然光强下则分配到果实中的高．光合速率在一定范围内随透光强度的增加而提高,以透光３０％的叶片为最高．其日变化呈双峰曲线．叶绿素含量在一定范围内随光强的增加而降低,叶绿素ｂ含量的变化亦为同样趋势．叶片结构以弱光和强光相比,在上表皮角质层花纹、下表皮气孔数、叶肉细胞形状、叶绿体数及其基粒片层结构都有明显差别．参的产量随光强的增加而显著增加,但以透光３０％时增长幅度最大,４０％时增长变小．根中总皂苷和氨基酸含量在一定范围内随光强而增加,至透光４０％时又下降．     

不同透光环境下红松光合色素含量的季节变动及应对策略

研究了辽东山区天然次生林内3种不同透光环境(强度透光、中度透光和弱度透光)下红松针叶光合色素(叶绿素a(Chl a)、叶绿素b(Chl b)、类胡萝卜素(Car)和叶绿素总量(Chl T))应对光环境季节变动做出的适应性调整。结果表明,随季节的变动(从春季至秋季),林分透光孔隙度逐渐减小。春季,透光度越大,红松叶绿素含量越高,Chl a/b值升高,Car/Chl T值降低;夏季,不同透光条件对红松光合色素含量无影响;秋季,各类透光条件下红松光合色素含量总体表现为升高的趋势,强度透光与中度透光条件红松针叶Chl a/b显著大于弱度透光,3种透光条件下红松Car/Chl T均降低。在春季红松开始生长前进行适当抚育,能提高光合色素含量,增强光合作用能力,促进生长。     

不同光质对烟草叶片生长及光合作用的影响

通过对烟草植株覆盖白、红、黄、蓝、紫色滤膜获得不同光质,研究了光质对烟叶生长及光合作用的影响。结果表明,与白膜处理相比,红膜与蓝膜处理下的烟草叶片较厚,比叶面积较小,叶绿素a/b比值、净光合速率、可变荧光强度（Fv）和最大荧光强度（Fm）的比值Fv/Fm（PSⅡ最大光化学量子效率）、PSⅡ实际光化学量子效率（ΦPSⅡ）、光饱和点和CO2饱和点均较高。黄膜处理下的叶片较白膜处理的更薄,净光合速率、Fv/Fm、ΦPSⅡ、光饱和点、CO2饱和点均较低。紫膜处理的叶片比叶面积比白膜处理的小,净光合速率和Fv/Fm比白膜的大。实验结果表明红光、蓝光和紫光促进了烟叶的生长,这种促进作用是与其高光合效率紧密相连的;而黄光对烟叶的生长有一定程度的抑制作用。     

Elevated CO2 Effects during Leaf Ontogeny (A New Perspective on Acclimation)

For many plants growth in elevated CO2 leads to reduced rates of photosynthesis. To examine the role that leaf ontogeny plays in the acclimation response, we monitored photosynthesis and some related parameters at short intervals throughout the ontogenetic development of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) leaves under ambient (350 [mu]L L-1)- and high (950 [mu]L L-1)-CO2 conditions. The pattern of photosynthetic rate over time was similar between the two treatments and consistent with the expected pattern for a typical dicot leaf. However, the photosynthesis pattern in high-CO2-grown tobacco was shifted temporally to an earlier maximum and subsequent senescent decline. Ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activity appeared to be the main factor regulating photosynthetic rates in both treatments. Therefore, we propose a new model for interpreting the acclimation response. Lowered photosynthetic rates observed during acclimation appear to be the result of a shift in the timing of the normal photosynthetic stages of leaf ontogeny to an earlier onset of the natural decline in photosynthetic rates associated with senescence.     

Light adaptation and the role of autotrophic epiphytes in primary production of the temperate seagrass, Zostera marina L.

Photosynthetic features of Zostera marina L. and its autotrophic epiphyte community were investigated in a population inhabiting a shallow (1.3 m depth) water meadow in Great Harbor, Woods Hole, MA (U.S.A.). Photosynthesis versus irradiance (P-I) relationships were measured with respect to leaf age determined by the leaf position in the shoot bundle and by location of the tissue along the leaf axis. Therefore both age and light intensity gradients along the leaf axis were considered. The maximum photosynthesis (P_max) per dm² typically increased nearly two-fold along the leaf axis from leaf bases to apices. Photosynthetic rate on a chlorophyll (Chl) basis did not increase as dramatically along the leaf axis, and rates were usually lowest in tissues with the highest Chl content. The P-I relationships of leaves of different ages did not reveal photoinhibition even at light intensities > 1400 μE • m⁻² • s ⁻¹. Furthermore, no photoinhibition was observed in tissues from leaf blade bases, which never experienced high light levels (> 500 μE • m ⁻² • s⁻¹) in situ in Great Harbor. The initial slopes of the P-I curves and light compensation and saturation values varied along the leaf axis in relation to in situ light intensity gradients and in relation to leaf or tissue age. It appeared that leaf and/or tissue age was more important than light environment in determining P-I responses. The contribution of the autotrophic epiphyte community on Z. marina leaves to total photosynthesis per dm² was between 27 and 50%, and between 10 and 44% per mg chlorophyll. These levels of epiphyte photosynthesis can double the primary production of Z. marina leaves. No detrimental effects of epiphyte cover were realized in leaf maximal photosynthesis or P-I relationships. Non-epiphytized leaves and leaves from which epiphytes were removed showed essentially identical photosynthetic features. Light intensity and age gradients along the leaf axis control both the photosynthetic performance of the leaves and epiphyte biomass and photosynthesis.     

Pictorial Demonstrations of Photosynthesis

Theodor Engelmann's experiments in 1882 provided the first recorded visual demonstration of light wavelengths that are absorbed by photosynthetic pigments. Later, starch images in intact leaves were used to demonstrate photosynthesis in green plants. Similarly, light-induced chloroplast movements can form images in leaves as a result of changes in light transmittance through leaves and photoinhibition can form images that can be visualized by whole leaf chlorophyll fluorescence. This paper provides a brief account of how photosynthesis has been used to create an assortment of 'living images' that offer stunning demonstrations of various aspects of photosynthesis.     

Flexible and reversible responses to different irradiance levels during photosynthetic acclimation of Cypripedium guttatum

Cypripedium guttatum can be found both in open and shady habitats. Photosynthetic acclimation of C. guttatum to different light availabilities was detected using measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthesis and leaf traits. When growing under low light conditions, C. guttatum exhibited a greater efficiency in photochemical utilization of absorbed light energy, and a lower ability for non-photochemical dissipation of excess light energy, as compared to the plants growing under high light conditions. Under intermediate light conditions, C. guttatum exhibited higher photosynthetic capacity (A(max)) than those under both low light or high light conditions. The differences in A(max) among three light environments was linked to the differences in biochemical efficiency, leaf N content (LNC) and leaf dry mass per unit area (LMA), but not to the differences of chlorophyll content. However, there were no significant differences in the light compensation points (LCP) and light saturation points (LSP) for photosynthesis for the plants growing under the three light conditions. These results indicate that the photosynthetic capacity of C. guttatum leaves allows for flexible and reversible responses to different irradiance levels. Photosynthetic acclimation in C. guttatum was affected by biochemical changes, the changes in LMA and ratio of Chl a/b. Successful acclimation of C. guttatum to a broad range of light levels likely allows for its wide geographical distribution. A level of about 45% sunlight appears to be optimal for photosynthesis.     

古尔班通古特沙漠白梭梭枝干光合及其影响因素

植物枝干光合（P_g）固定其自身呼吸所释放的CO₂,有效减少植物向大气的CO₂排放量。以古尔班通古特沙漠优势木本植物白梭梭（Haloxylon persicum）为研究对象,利用LI-COR 6400便携式光合仪与特制光合叶室（P-Chamber）相结合,观测白梭梭叶片、不同径级枝干的光响应及光合日变化特征;同时监测环境因子（大气温湿度、光合有效辐射、土壤温度及含水量等）与叶片/枝干性状指标（叶绿素含量、含水量、干物质含量、碳/氮含量等）,揭示叶片/枝干光合的主要影响因子;采用破坏性取样,量化个体水平上叶片与枝干的总表面积,阐明枝干光合对植株个体碳平衡的贡献。研究结果显示：（1）白梭梭叶片叶绿素含量是枝干叶绿素含量的12-16倍,各径级枝干叶绿素含量差异不显著;（2）枝干光饱和点低于叶片,枝干不同径级（由粗至细）,暗呼吸速率和枝干光合逐渐减小;（3）光合有效辐射、土壤含水量和空气温湿度是影响叶片光合的主要因子,对枝干光合无显著影响;（4）枝干光合可以固定其自身呼吸产生CO₂的73%,最高可达90%,枝干光合固定CO₂约占个体水平固碳量的15.4%。研究结果表明,忽视枝干光合的贡献来预测未来气候变化背景下荒漠生态系统碳过程,可能存在根本性缺陷,并且在估算枝干呼吸时,需要考虑枝干是否存在光合作用,以提高枝干呼吸的准确性。