Optical properties and the content of photosynthetic pigments in the stems and leaves of the apple-tree

Optical properties and changes in the content of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and total carotenoids) were investigated in the bark and leaves of the apple-tree during a year. Optical properties of stems change with their age. Light reflectance of current year stems equalled 14.2%, while the one for 3-year-old stems decreased to 10.2%, absorption for the current year stems equalled 55.5% and increased up to 66.4% for 3-year-old ones. Light transmittance for the cork of current year stems equalled 30.2%, and decreased with the age of stems reaching 23.4% for the 3-year-old ones. The cork transmitted less than 5% of light of 400 nm, but the transmittance increased with the increase in the wavelength up to 55% at 700 nm. The reflectance of light by the leaf equalled 6.9%, absorption 89.7%, and transmittance 3.4%. In August the highest amount of chlorophyll pigments (6.2 mg·dm⁻²) and carotenoids (1.63 mg·dm⁻²) was detected in the leaves of the apple-tree, however, the ratio of chl a/b reached the highest value 4.12 in June. For the bark of apple-tree stems the content of chlorophyll pigments increased since spring and reached the maximum content of about 2.8 mg(chl)·dm⁻² for 1-3-year-old stems in the summer months, while for the current year stems in October. The ratio chl a/b was at the same level, about 2.2 during the whole year. The content of carotenoids was lower in stems than in leaves and was at the similar level during the year, however, it increased with the age of stems. Minor changes in the optical properties and the content of photosynthetic pigments occurring with the age of stems may be due to the low increment in cork thickness in the studied age groups of plants.     

Gradient of photosynthetic pigments in the bark and leaves of lilac (Syringa vulgaris L.)

The concentration of chlorophyll and a carotenoids in the bark of stems of different age and in the leaves of lilac (Syringa vulgaris L.) was determined. The thickness of bark changes with the age of the stems, ranging from 0.73 mm in the current-year stems to 1.22 mm in 3-year-old ones. Chlorophyll and carotenoids were present through the whole thickness of the bark, except the cork. It was found that chlorophyll and carotenoids are located mainly in the outer layer of the bark, immediately under the cork, to a depth of 400 μm. In this layer the chlorophyll a/b ratio is the highest and the content of chlorophyll is four times larger than that of carotenoids. When penetrating deeper into the bark, the content of chlorophyll and carotenoids as well as the chlorophyll a/b ratio diminishes. Investigations of the leaves showed that most of the chlorophyll is found in the palisade parenchyma, the chlorophyll a/b ratio is the highest in the upper layer. The highest concentration of chlorophyll in the bark is 0.44 mg·dm⁻² and in leaves −1.2 mg⁻²·dm⁻². The highest value of the chlorophyll a/b ratio in the bark is 3.8, and the lowest 0.5, while in the leaves it varies from 4.5 to 3.8 Low values of the chlorophyll a/b ratio are due to the shade conditions existing in the bark and they are evidence of very great differentiation of light conditions within it.     

The influence of chlorophyll fluorescence on the light gradients and the phytochrome state in a green model leaf under natural conditions

Abstract. The effect of chlorophyll fluoresence on the spectral light gradients within a model green leaf was examined under different light qualities (day-light, sunset, canopy) and different quantum efficiencies. Light fluxes within the leaf tissue are nearly doubled in the emission domain of fluorescence but the effect on the phytochrome photoequilibrium is very small.     

光质对烟叶光合特性、类胡萝卜素和表面提取物含量的影响

以烤烟云烟87为材料,在烟株团棵期和打顶期用透光率相近的有色薄膜分别对其进行遮光处理直到采收结束,研究光质对烟叶光合特性、类胡萝卜素和表面提取物含量的影响.结果表明:烟叶生育前期各光质的整体光合性能依次为红光＞自然光＞白光＞蓝光＞黄光,后期蓝光的作用逐渐凸显.烤后烟叶β-胡萝卜素和叶黄素含量之间呈极显著正相关,且β-胡萝卜素含量明显高于叶黄素含量.团棵期增加红光,打顶期补充蓝光,有利于提高烤后烟叶β-胡萝卜素和叶黄素含量.光质对腺毛分泌物中的β-西柏三烯二醇影响最大,对降茄二酮影响最小.烷烃类蜡质成分中的三十一烷、三十三烷和异三十三烷含量受光质影响较大,异三十二烷和二十九烷含量受光质影响较小.相对于腺毛分泌物和烷烃类蜡质而言,光质对新植二烯影响较小.黄膜处理烤后烟叶的腺毛分泌物及其降解产物总量最高,光质对新植二烯和烷烃类蜡质含量的影响存在多种变化.红光和蓝光对烟叶表面提取物的影响效应主要表现在烟株生长前期,黄光和白光的影响效应主要体现在烟株生长后期.烟株生长前期增加红光比例,有利于增加烤后烟叶新植二烯和烷烃类蜡质成分积累;烟株生长后期补充黄光光质有助于提高烤后烟叶腺毛分泌物含量和表面提取物总量.     

UV-B对两种藻光合色素和多糖含量的影响

本文研究了微绿球藻(Nanochloropsis sp.)和海洋原甲藻(Prorocentrum micans)在不同辐射强度的UV-B照射下的光合色素和多糖含量的变化,结果表明微绿球藻比原甲藻有更强的抗紫外辐射能力.它的叶绿素a含量在UV照射下保持相对稳定,而原甲藻的叶绿素a含量明显下降.同时发现微绿球藻中的类胡萝卜素含量有十分显著的上升,由于类胡萝卜素具有保护功能,因此它很可能保护了叶绿素a免遭破坏,从而在微绿球藻的抗紫外辐射中起到重要作用.另外,紫外处理也促进了微绿球藻中多糖含量的升高,这也有利于提高它的抗UV能力,多糖可能作为一种保护机制,对保护藻类防止UV伤害方面有一定功能.原甲藻则因为这些机能较弱,对UV的抗性较低.     

光质对温室甜椒干物质生产和分配指数的影响

为了研究不同光质对甜椒植株干物质生产与分配指数的影响,以甜椒茎有限生长品种"苏椒13号"为试验材料,于2010年计不同种彩色塑料薄膜(红、黄、蓝、绿、紫,白色为对照)试验。结果表明:不同光质处理的甜椒单位面积干物质生产量(Wt)与冠层截获的太阳光合有效辐射日积分(daily photosynthetic active radiation integral,PARi,MJ·m-2)之间的模型为Wt=22.07×e0.0054λPARi;单位面积植株总干重、果实的干物质分配指数、果实采收指数和单位面积果实产量均以红膜最高,紫膜最低;蓝膜的茎干物质分配指数最高,红膜最低;蓝膜、绿膜和紫膜的植株叶片干物质分配指数明显高于红膜和黄膜;不同光质处理对甜椒植株地上部分干物质分配指数的影响差异不显著;研究认为红膜和黄膜能够促进甜椒植株的干物质积累和果实发育,紫膜和蓝膜则有明显的抑制作用,该研究结果可为温室甜椒栽培的光质选择和环境调控提供决策依据。     

Variability in leaf optical properties among 26 species from a broad range of habitats

Leaves from 26 species with growth forms from annual herbs to trees were collected from open, intermediate, and shaded understory habitats in Mississippi and Kansas, USA. Leaf optical properties including reflectance, transmittance, and absorptance in visible and near infrared (NIR) wavelengths were measured along with leaf thickness and specific leaf mass (SLM). These leaf properties and internal light scattering have been reported to vary with light availability in studies that have focused on a limited number of species. Our objective was to determine whether these patterns in leaf optics and light availability were consistent when a greater number of species were evaluated. Leaf thickness and SLM varied by tenfold among species sampled, but within-habitat variance was high. Although there was a strong trend toward thicker leaves in open habitats, only SLM was significantly greater in open vs. understory habitats. In contrast, leaf optical properties were strikingly similar among habitats. Reflectance and reflectance/transmittance in the NIR were used to estimate internal light scattering and there were strong relationships (r1 > 0.65) between these optical properties and leaf thickness. We concluded that leaf thickness, which did not vary consistently among habitats, was the best predictor of NIR reflectance and internal light scattering. However, because carbon allocation to leaves was lower in understory species (low SLM) yet gross optical properties were similar among all habitats, the energy investment by shade leaves required to achieve optical equivalence with sun leaves was lower. Differences in leaf longevity and growth form within a habitat may help explain the lack of consistent patterns in leaf optics as the number of species sampled increases.     

Radiative properties of hardwood leaves to ultraviolet irradiation

Spectral reflectance and transmittance of leaves to ultraviolet irradiation were determined under laboratory conditions for seven species of hardwood trees, namely red oak (Quercus rubra, L), black oak (Q. velutina, Lamarch), white oak (Q. alba, L.), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), Norway maple (A. plantanoides), hickory (Carya tomemtosa), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and black oak litter. The experimental system consisted of a solar simulator, an integrating sphere, and a spectroradiometer. Experiments were repeated three to five times for both adaxial and abaxial surfaces of fresh leaves chosen at randomly. The spectral distributions and simple averages of the radiative properties in the wavelength ranges of ultraviolet-B (UV-B, 280–320 nm) and ultraviolet-A (UV-A, 320–400 nm) were determined. The spectral distributions of reflectance were similar between adaxial and abaxial surfaces, although the magnitude varied among tree species. Leaf reflectance was very low for the ultraviolet spectrum in general and varied among species and between adaxial and abaxial surfaces. It was generally higher over the UV-A waveband compared to UV-B, and higher on the abaxial than adaxial surface. The broadband reflectance in the UV-A range (over all species) was 5.0 and 3.9% for abaxial and adaxial surface, respectively, compared to 3.5 and 2.8% in UV-B. The transmittance through leaves was extremely small in the UV-B (<0.1%) and nearly zero in the UV-A spectral range. Consequently, the absorptance of ultraviolet radiation by leaves, as determined from the measured reflectance and transmittance, was quite high, being more than 90% for all the combinations of species and wavebands examined. The reported results are useful for studies requiring spectral radiative properties of the examined leaves with respect to ultraviolet irradiation.     

Distribution and diversity of begomoviruses in tomato and sweet pepper plants in Costa Rica

Begomoviruses (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae) have emerged as important plant pathogens in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Although these viruses were reported during the 1970s in Costa Rica, they are still poorly known. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyse the diversity and distribution of begomoviruses in commercial tomato and sweet pepper fields from different agricultural production systems of the major growing regions of Costa Rica. A total of 651 plants were randomly sampled from greenhouses and open field crops during 2011 and 2012 in three different geographical locations. The bipartite begomoviruses Tomato yellow mottle virus, Tomato leaf curl Sinaloa virus and Pepper golden mosaic virus, and the monopartite begomovirus Tomato yellow leaf curl virus were detected in the collected samples. The complete genome of isolates from each species was cloned and sequenced. The frequency of detection of these four begomoviruses in the analysed samples ranged from 0 to 9%, the presence, and the prevalent virus varied largely according to the geographical location, the host (tomato and pepper), and the production system (greenhouses or open fields). An association between geographical region and begomovirus species was observed suggesting that in Costa Rica the heterogeneity on climate, topography and agricultural system might influence the distribution of begomovirus species in the country. A broader survey needs to be conducted to confirm it, although these preliminary results may contribute to the management of begomoviruses in Costa Rica.     

Response of sweet pepper to phenols accumulated in greenhouse substrate

Prolonged cucumber cultivation in the same substrates leads to accumulation of phytotoxic phenolic compounds. Introduction of sweet pepper as an aftercrop eliminates substrate phytotoxicity. The aim of the study was to examine whether in sweet pepper detoxication of substrate phenols occurs by means of the glucosylation process. The examined materials were substrates differing in phytotoxicity level, and sweet pepper plants grown on these substrates. Substrate phytotoxicity was obtained by means of either repeated cucumber cultivation or by phenolic acid addition. During the vegetative growth phase of sweet pepper, the phytotoxicity and phenolic compound levels in the substrate, and the glucosylated phenol contents in above-ground plant parts were determined. Results showed that sweet pepper responds to an increased presence of phenols in the substrate by an intensified glucosylation.     

Carbohydrate metabolism during fruit development in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) plants

Growth, accumulation of sugars and starch, and the activity of enzymes involved in sucrose mobilization were determined throughout the development of sweet pepper fruits. Fruit development was roughly divided into three phases: (1) an initial phase with high relative growth rate and hexose accumulation, (2) a phase with declining growth rate and accumulation of sucrose and starch, and (3) a ripening phase with no further fresh weight increase and with accumulation of hexoses, while sucrose and starch were degraded. Acid and neutral invertase (EC 3.2.1.26) were closely correlated to relative growth rate until ripening and inversly correlated to the accumulation of sucrose. Acid invertase specifically increased during ripening, concurrently with the accumulation of hexoses. Sucrose synthase (EC 2.4.1.13) showed little correlation to fruit development, and in periods of rapid growth the activity of sucrose synthase was low compared to the invertases. However, during late fruit growth sucose synthase was more active than the invertases. We conclude that invertase activities determine the accumulation of assimilates in the very young fruits, and a reactivation of acid invertase is responsible for the accumulation of hexoses during ripening. During late fruit growth, before ripening, sucrose synthase is transiently responsible for the sucrose breakdown in the fruit tissue. Results also indicate that pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase (EC 2.7.1.90) and its activator fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (Fru2,6bisP) are involved in the regulation of the sink metabolism of the fruit tissue.     

Changes in contents of photosynthetic pigments and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase activity during the development of globular somatic embryo into the plantlet of Siberian ginseng

During the development of the globular embryos via heart-shaped, torpedo-shaped, and cotyledonary embryos into plantlets, contents of chlorophyll (Chl) a and b and carotenoids, and activity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPC, EC 4.1.1.39) were investigated. In the solid cultivation (SC) the contents of Chl a, Chl b, Chl a/b, and total pigments increased up to plantlet stage. In the liquid cultivation (LC), contents of Chl a, Chl b, and total pigments increased till the torpedo-shaped stage, but decreased with the further development up to plantlets stage. During SC, RuBPC activity increased up to the torpedo-shaped embryo stage, but in the LC RuPBC activity increased continuously with the progress in the developmental stages. The correlations between Chl a and RuBPC activity on the SC and LC were negative, r = −0.26 and −0.56, respectively.     

Chlorophyll and light gradients in sun and shade leaves of Spinacia oleracea

Abstract. Light gradients were measured and correlated with chlorophyll concentration and anatomy of leaves in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). Light gradients were measured at 450, 550 and 680 nm within thin (455 μm) and thick (630 μm) leaves of spinach grown under sun and shade conditions. The light gradients were relatively steep in both types of leaves and 90% of the light at 450 and 680 nm was absorbed by the initial 140 μm of the palisade. In general, blue light was depleted faster than red light which, in turn was depleted faster than green light. Light penetrated further into the thicker palisade of sun leaves in comparison to the shade leaves. The distance that blue light at 450 nm travelled before it became 90% depleted was 120 μm in sun leaves versus 76 μm in shade leaves. Red light at 680 nm and green light at 550 nm travelled further but the trends were similar to that measured at 450nm. The steeper light gradients within the palisade-of shade leaves were caused by increased scattering of light within the intercellular air spaces and/or cells which were less compact than those in sun leaves. The decline in the amount of light within the leaf appeared to be balanced by a gradient in chlorophyll concentration measured in paradermal sections. Progressing from the adaxial epidermis, chlorophyll content increased through the palisade and then declined through the spongy mesophyll. Chlorophyll content was similar in the palisade of both sun and shade leaves. Chloroplast distribution within both sun and shade leaves was relatively uniform so that the chlorophyll gradient appeared to be caused by greater amounts of chlorophyll within chloroplasts located deeper within the leaf. These results indicate that the anatomy of the palisade may be of special importance for controlling the penetration of photo-synthetically active radiation into the leaf. Changing the structural characteristics of individual palisade cells or their arrangement may be an adaptation that maximizes the absorption of light in leaves with varying mesophyll thickness due to different ambient light regimes.     

Leaf photosynthetic light response: a mechanistic model for scaling photosynthesis to leaves and canopies

1. The response of photosynthesis to radiation is an often-studied but poorly understood process, represented empirically in most photosynthesis models. However, in scaling photosynthesis from leaf to canopy, predictions of canopy photosynthesis are very sensitive to parameters describing the response of leaves to Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD).
2. In this study, a mechanistic, yet still simple, approach is presented that models the degree of light saturation in leaves explicitly, assuming a heterogeneous environment of PPFD and chlorophyll.
3. Possible mechanisms determining the ratio of chlorophyll to nitrogen are considered, including a direct dependence on PPFD, a mechanism involving the red/far-red ratio of light in the canopy, and an approach based upon maximizing photosynthesis.
4. Comparison of model predictions with two data sets of light, nitrogen and chlorophyll from canopies of Populus and Corylus suggests that the red/far-red mechanism is the most realistic. The data also show that the trees studied do not always optimize their nitrogen partitioning to maximize photosynthetic yield.
5. We then apply the model to the data sets, to predict the shape of light response curves of leaves within canopies and assess the applicability of simple scaling schemes, in which full acclimation of photosynthesis to PPFD justifies the use of big-leaf models. We conclude that, at least for the data used, basic assumptions of such schemes do not hold.     

Ultra-structural and functional changes in the chloroplasts of detached barley leaves senescing under dark and light conditions

Changes in the chloroplast ultra-structure and photochemical function were studied in detached barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Akcent) leaf segments senescing in darkness or in continuous white light of moderate intensity (90 mumol m-2 s-1) for 5 days. A rate of senescence-induced chlorophyll degradation was similar in the dark- and light-senescing segments. The Chl a/b ratio was almost unchanged in the dark-senescing segments, whereas in the light-senescing segments an increase in this ratio was observed indicating a preferential degradation of light-harvesting complexes of photosystem II. A higher level of thylakoid disorganisation (especially of granal membranes) and a very high lipid peroxidation were observed in the light-senescing segments. In spite of these findings, both the maximal and actual photochemical quantum yields of the photosystem II were highly maintained in comparison with the dark-senescing segments.     

Growth, photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence of sweet pepper plants as affected by the cultivation method

Different methods of sweet pepper cultivation (organic, integrated and conventional farming) were evaluated under greenhouse conditions. Organic treatment was defined as only 4‐kg manure application at the preplanting stage. Conventional and integrated treatments consisted of application of the manure dosage plus chemical fertiliser at 100% and 50% of the local farmers’ amount, respectively, to avoid nutrient depletion. Plant growth parameters such as shoot dry matter, total leaf area and leaf weight fraction were all reduced in the organic treatment compared with the conventional. Leaf expansion was dramatically reduced in the organic treatment 155 days after transplanting. Relative growth rates were significantly affected by the nitrogen concentration in each organ and were directly related to the cultivation method. Chlorophylls (a + b) contents in the leaves were reduced in the organic treatment and were directly correlated with the nondestructive quantification of chlorophylls using a portable chlorophyll meter. Net photosynthesis was also reduced in the organic treatment, but chlorophyll fluorescence was not affected. This study shows that biometric monitoring and fast and non‐invasive techniques of plant nutrient status analysis could help to improve growth as easy and useful tools to follow the nutrient status at different phenological stages, especially when no chemical fertilisers are applied.     

Irradiance influences contents of photosynthetic pigments and proteins in tropical grasses and legumes

Three tropical range grasses (Cenchrus ciliaris, Dichanthium annulatum, and Panicum antidotale) and two range legumes [Macroptilium atropurpureum (siratro) and Stylosanthes hamata (stylo)] were grown under four irradiances, i.e. 100 (I ₁₀₀, control), 75 (I ₇₅), 50 (I ₅₀), and 25 (I ₂₅) % of full sunlight. Accumulation of chlorophyll (Chl) b increased but that of Chl a decreased under low irradiances. The greater accumulation of Chl (a+b) in grasses (particularly in D. annulatum and P. antidotale) under shade predicted their shade adaptability. Among legumes Stylosanthes was more adaptive to the shade than Macroptilium due to its higher accumulation of Chl (a+b). Significant difference in the accumulation of carotenoids under I ₂₅ over I ₁₀₀ was observed in all the species, which shows the increase in quality of the fodder under limited irradiance. There was a significant decrease in soluble protein content in C. ciliaris under I ₇₅, however, no significant difference in protein content was observed under I ₅₀ and I ₂₅, which was also reflected in the SDS pattern with the reduction in content of polypeptides at I ₇₅ and following increase at I ₅₀ and I ₂₅. This was possibly due to reduction of light-induced protein at I ₇₅ and then expression of the stress-induced protein at further reduction of irradiance. Peroxidase activity in C. ciliaris increased with the decrease in irradiance and its isozyme pattern showed differences among all treatments, which indicated the role of different peroxidase isoforms at different irradiances.     

Differences in photosynthetic apparatus of leaves from different sides of the chestnut canopy

In crowns of chestnut trees the absorption of radiant energy is not homogeneous; leaves from the south (S) side are the most irradiated, but leaves from the east (E) and west (W) sides receive around 70 % and those from north (N) face less than 20 % of the S irradiation. Compared to the S leaves, those from the N side were 10 % smaller, their stomata density was 14 % smaller, and their laminae were 21 % thinner. N leaves had 0.63 g(Chl) m⁻², corresponding to 93 % of total chlorophyll (Chl) amount in leaves of S side. The ratios of Chl a/b were 2.9 and 3.1 and of Chl/carotenoids (Car) 5.2 and 4.8, respectively, in N and S leaves. Net photosynthetic rate (P _N) was 3.9 μmol(CO₂) m⁻² s⁻¹ in S leaves, in the E, W, and N leaves 81, 77, and 38 % of that value, respectively. Morning time (10:00 h) was the period of highest P _N in the whole crown, followed by 13:00 h (85 % of S) and 16:00 h with 59 %. Below 500 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), N leaves produced the highest P _N, while at higher PPFD, the S leaves were most active. In addition, the fruits from S side were 10 % larger than those from the N side.