On the relationship between the non-photochemical quenching of the chlorophyll fluorescence and the Photosystem II light harvesting efficiency. A repetitive flash fluorescence induction study

Plants respond to excess light by a photoprotective reduction of the light harvesting efficiency. The notion that the non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence can be reliably used as an indicator of the photoprotection is put to a test here. The technique of the repetitive flash fluorescence induction is employed to measure in parallel the non-photochemical quenching of the maximum fluorescence and the functional cross-section (sigma(PS II)) which is a product of the photosystem II optical cross-section a(PS II) and of its photochemical yield Phi(PS II) (sigma (PS II) = a(PS II) Phi(PS II)). The quenching is measured for both, the maximum fluorescence found in a single-turnover flash (F(M) (ST)) and in a multiple turnover light pulse (F(M) (MT)). The experiment with the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum confirmed that, in line with the prevalent model, the PS II functional cross-section sigma (PS II) is reduced in high light and restored in the dark with kinetics and amplitude that are closely matching the changes of the F(M) (ST) and F(M) (MT) quenching. In contrast, a poor correlation between the light-induced changes in the PS II functional cross-section sigma (PS II) and the quenching of the multiple-turnover F(M) (MT) fluorescence was found in the green alga Scenedesmus quadricauda. The non-photochemical quenching in Scenedesmus quadricauda was further investigated using series of single-turnover flashes given with different frequencies. Several mechanisms that modulate the fluorescence emission in parallel to the Q(A) redox state and to the membrane energization were resolved and classified in relation to the light harvesting capacity of Photosystem II.     

长期施氮对旱地小麦灌浆期叶绿素荧光参数的影响

探讨了长期施氮对黄土旱塬冬小麦灌浆期叶绿紊荧光的影响．结果表明,PSⅡ反应中心的实际光化学效率(φPSⅡ)随叶片水分胁迫的加剧而降低,施氮可明显提高φPsⅡ．施氮量为0kg·hm^-2、90kg·hm^-2和180kg·hm^-2三个处理中午时叶片的φPSⅡ分别为0．197、0．279和0．283,与上午相比分别降低了57．7％、56．4％和40．2％;下午各处理的φPSⅡ均得以恢复,0kg·hm^-2和90kg·hm^-2处理分别恢复到上午的87．3％和81．5％,180kg·hm^-2处理则完全恢复,并稍高于上午．施氮可提高PSⅡ的最大光化学量子效率(Fv／Fm)、光化学猝灭系数(qP)和非光化学猝灭系数(qNP)等荧光参数,表明施氮一方面提高了光能转换效率和PSⅡ的潜在活性,另一方面增强了过剩光能的非光化学耗散,有利于保护光合机构免受环境胁迫的破坏．但90kg·hm^-2和180kg·hm^-2施氮处理之间对光合的促进作用差异不显著,表明过量施氮无助于光合性能的提高,作物的光合能力并不随施氮量而同比例的改善。     

Photoadaptation in the Green Alga Spongiochloris Sp. A Three-Fluorometer Study

The dark-adapted cells of the green alga Spongiochloris sp. were exposed to "white light" of 1000 μmol(photon) m⁻² s⁻¹ for 2 h and then dark adapted for 1.5 h. Changes of photochemical activities during photoadaptation were followed by measurement of chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence kinetics, 77 K emission spectra, photosynthetic oxygen evolution, and pigment composition. We observed a build-up of slowly-relaxing non-photochemical quenching which led to a decrease of the F_v/F_m parameter and the connectivity. In contrast to the depression of F_v/F_m (35 %) and the rise of non-photochemical quenching (∼ 1.6), we observed an increase in effective absorption cross-section (20 %), Hill reaction (30 %), photosynthetic oxygen evolution (80 %), and electron transport rate estimated from the Chl fluorescence analysis (80 %). We showed an inconsistency in the presently used interpretation schemes, and ascribe the discrepancy between the increase of effective absorption cross-section and the photosynthetic activities on one side and the effective non-photochemical quenching on the other side to the build-up of a quenching mechanism which dissipates energy in closed reaction centres. Such a type of quenching changes the ratio between thermal dissipation and fluorescence without any effect on photochemical yield. In this case the F_v/F_m ratio cannot be used as a measure of the maximum photochemical yield of PS2. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

濒危植物长序榆(Ulmus elongata)幼苗叶绿素荧光特性的初步研究

用Li-6400XT便携式光合作用仪对濒危植物长序榆幼苗的各叶绿素荧光参数的日变化和快速光响应曲线进行了测定。结果发现,光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)的实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)、电子传递速率(ETR)在整个白天阶段较稳定,下午18:00显著下降。光化学淬灭(qP)先增大后减小。非光化学淬灭(NPQ)呈现出与光化学淬灭(qP)相反的变化趋势,中午最低,说明长序榆幼苗光能利用率较高。快速光曲线表明实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)和光化学淬灭(qP)随着光合有效辐射(PAR)的增大而减小,电子传递速率(ETR)和非光化学淬灭(NPQ)随着光合有效辐射(PAR)的增大而增大。使用幂函数能够很好的拟合实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)和电子传递速率(ETR)随光强的变化,而对数函数能较好的拟合实际光化学淬灭(qP)和非光化学淬灭(NPQ)随光强的变化。     

A quantitative determination of photochemical and non-photochemical quenching during the slow phase of the chlorophyll fluorescence induction curve of bean leaves

Estimations of the changes in the reduction-oxidation state of Photosystem II electron acceptors in Phaseolus vulgaris leaves were made during the slow decline in chlorophyll fluorescence emission from the maximal level at P to the steady-state level at T. The relative contributions of photochemical and non-photochemical processes to the fluorescence quenching were determined from these data. At a low photon flux density of 100 μmol · m^?2 · s^?1, non-photochemical quenching was the major contributor to the fluorescence decline from P to T, although large charges were observed in photochemical quenching immediately after P. On increasing the light intensity 10-fold, the contribution of photochemical processes to fluorescence quenching was markedly diminished, with nearly all the P-to-T fluorescence decline being attributable to changes in non-photochemical quenching. The possible factors responsible for changes in non-photochemical quenching within the leaves are discussed.     

短期UV-B辐射对青藏高原美丽风毛菊PS Ⅱ光化学效率的影响

通过短期增补UV-B辐射模拟试验,研究了青藏高原典型天气(晴天、多云、阴天)下高山植物美丽风毛菊叶片的叶绿素荧光参数变化.结果表明:随天气由晴变阴,美丽风毛菊叶片暗适应3 min的PSⅡ最大光化学量子效率(Fv/Fm)显著升高,实际PSⅡ光化学效率(ФPSⅡ)和光化学猝灭系数(qp)也升高,而非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)则降低,可见光辐射(PAR)是影响PSⅡ光能转化效率的主要因素.增补UV-B辐射后,3种典型天气下,美丽风毛菊叶片的Fv/Fm和NPQ略有降低,ФPSⅡ和qp略微增加,但对光合气体交换过程没有产生负影响.叶片净光合速率Pn和ФPSⅡ的增高趋势与增补UV-B辐射下相对较多的UV-A成分有关,同时也得益于叶片厚度的增加.UV-B辐射对叶片光合机构具有潜在负影响.     

Effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid on the photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of muskmelon seedlings under hypoxia stress

By the method of hydroponic culture, this paper studied the effects of exogenous gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on the photosynthetic pigment contents, photosynthesis, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of muskmelon seedlings under hypoxia stress. Hypoxia stress induced a significant decrease of photosynthetic pigment contents, resulting in the decrease of photosynthesis. Applying GABA could significantly increase the photosynthetic pigment contents, net photosynthetic rate (P(n)), stomatal conductance (G(s)), intercellular CO2 concentration (C(i)), carboxylation efficiency (CE), maximal photochemical efficiency of PS II (F(v)/F(m)), photochemical quenching (q(P)), apparent photosynthetic electron transfer rate (ETR), and quantum yield of PS II electron transport (phi(PS II)), and decrease the stomatal limitation value (L(s)), minimal fluorescence (F(o)), and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) under both hypoxic and normal conditions. The alleviation effect of GABA on photosynthetic characteristics was more obvious under hypoxia stress. However, simultaneously applying GABA and VGB could significantly decrease the alleviation effect of GABA under hypoxia stress.     

Photoinactivation of photosystem II by cumulative exposure to short light pulses during the induction period of photosynthesis

Photoinactivation of Photosystem (PS) II in vivo was investigated by cumulative exposure of pea, rice and spinach leaves to light pulses of variable duration from 2 to 100 s, separated by dark intervals of 30 min. During each light pulse, photosynthetic induction occurred to an extent depending on the time of illumination, but steady-state photosynthesis had not been achieved. During photosynthetic induction, it is clearly demonstrated that reciprocity of irradiance and duration of illumination did not hold: hence the same cumulative photon exposure (mol m^–2) does not necessarily give the same extent of photoinactivation of PS II. This contrasts with the situation of steady-state photosynthesis where the photoinactivation of PS II exhibited reciprocity of irradiance and duration of illumination (Park et al. (1995) Planta 196: 401–411). We suggest that, for reciprocity to hold between irradiance and duration of illumination, there must be a balance between photochemical (qP) and non-photochemical (NPQ) quenching at all irradiances. The index of susceptibility to light stress, which represents an intrinsic ability of PS II to balance photochemical and non-photochemical quenching, is defined by the quotient (1-qP)/NPQ. Although constant in steady-state photosynthesis under a wide range of irradiance (Park et al. (1995). Plant Cell Physiol 36: 1163–1169), this index of susceptibility for spinach leaves declined extremely rapidly during photosynthetic induction at a given irradiance, and, at a given cumulative photon exposure, was dependent on irradiance. During photosynthetic induction, only limited photoprotective strategies are developed: while the transthylakoid pH gradient conferred some degree of photoprotection, neither D1 protein turnover nor the xanthophyll cycle was operative. Thus, PS II is more easily photoinactivated during photosynthetic induction, a phenomenon that may have relevance for understorey leaves experiencing infrequent, short sunflecks.Abbreviations D1 protein psbA gene product - DTT dithiothreitol - F_v, F_m, F_o variable, maximum, and initial (corresponding to open traps) chlorophyll fluorescence yield, respectively - NPQ non-photochemical quenching - PS Photosystem - Q_A primary quinone acceptor of PS II - qP photochemical quenching coefficient     

High photosynthetic efficiency of a rice (Oryza sativa L.) xantha mutant

Comparative analysis revealed that a xantha rice mutant (cv. Huangyu B) had higher ratios of chlorophyll (Chl) a/b and carotenoids/Chl, and higher photosynthetic efficiency than its wild type parent (cv. II32 B). Unexpectedly, the mutant had higher net photosynthetic rate (P _N) than II32 B. This might have resulted from its lower non-photochemical quenching (q_N) but higher maximal photochemical efficiency (F_V/F_M), higher excitation energy capture efficiency of photosystem 2 (PS2) reaction centres (F_V′/F_M′), higher photochemical quenching (q_P), higher effective PS2 quantum yield (Φ_PS2), and higher non-cyclic electron transport rate (ETR). This is the first report of a chlorophyll mutant that has higher photosynthetic efficiency and main Chl fluorescence parameters than its wild type. This mutant could become a unique material both for the basic research on photosynthesis and for the development of high yielding rice cultivars.     

硝酸根胁迫对黄瓜幼苗叶片光合速率、PSⅡ光化学效率及光能分配的影响

研究了不同浓度NO₃^-胁迫对黄瓜幼苗叶片光合速率、PSⅡ光化学效率及光能分配的影响.结果表明,当NO₃^-浓度较低时（14～98 mmol·L^-1）,适当增加NO₃^-浓度,可增强黄瓜幼苗叶片对光的捕获能力,促进光合作用.随着NO₃^-浓度的进一步增加（140～182 mmol·L^-1）,PSⅡ光化学效率降低,电子传递受到抑制,净光合速率降低;吸收的光能中,通过天线色素的热耗散增加,用于光化学反应的能量降低,光化学效率下降.140和182 mmol·L^-1 NO₃^-处理黄瓜幼苗叶片6 d后净光合速率(P_n)极显著下降,分别比对照降低了35%和78%;PSⅡ最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)、天线转化效率(F_v’/F_m’)、实际光化学效率(Φ_PSⅡ)、光化学猝灭系数(q_P)均低于对照,非光化学猝灭(NPQ)高于对照,激发能在两个光系统间的分配不平衡性(β/α-1)增大.高浓度NO₃^-处理的黄瓜幼苗叶片各荧光参数变化幅度比低浓度大.当光照增强时,高浓度NO₃^-胁迫下黄瓜幼苗叶片吸收的光能中应用于光化学反应的份额(P) 显著降低,天线热耗散的份额(D)显著增加. 天线热耗散是耗散过剩能量的主要途径.     

Analysis of the slow phases of the in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence induction curve. Changes in the redox state of Photosystem II electron acceptors and fluorescence emission from Photosystems I and II

An analysis of the photo-induced decline in the in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence emission (Kautsky phenomenon) from the bean leaf is presented. The redox state of PS II electron acceptors and the fluorescence emission from PS I and PS II were monitored during quenching of fluorescence from the maximum level at P to the steady state level at T. Simultaneous measurement of the kinetics of fluorescence emission associated with PS I and PS II indicated that the ratio of PS I/PS II emission changed in an antiparallel fashion to PS II emission throughout the induction curve. Estimation of the redox state of PS II electron acceptors at given points during P to T quenching was made by exposing the leaf to additional excitation irradiation and determining the amount of variable PS II fluorescence generated. An inverse relationship was found between the proportion of PS II electron acceptors in the oxidised state and PS II fluorescence emission. The interrelationships between the redox state of PS II electron acceptors and fluorescence emission from PS I and PS II remained similar when the shape of the induction curve from P to T was modified by increasing the excitation photon flux density. The contributions of photochemical and non-photochemical quenching to the in vivo fluorescence decline from P to T are discussed.     

麻疯树幼苗对干旱胁迫的响应

以不同浓度(5%～25%)的聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)模拟干旱胁迫处理麻疯树三叶期幼苗,研究了不同程度干旱胁迫下麻疯树叶片光合特性及其对干旱的耐受能力.结果表明:在较低浓度PEG(≤15%)处理下,随PEG浓度的增加,麻疯树叶片净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(G_s)、胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)、PSⅡ实际光化学量子产量(Φ_PSⅡ)、光化学猝灭(q_P)和表观光合电子传递速率(ETR)下降,PSⅡ原初光能转化效率(F_v/F_m)轻微下降,水分利用效率(WUE)则逐渐升高,非光化学猝灭(NPQ)明显上升,初始荧光(F_o)无显著变化(P＞0.05);在高浓度PEG(＞15%)处理下,C_i随PEG浓度的增加而显著上升,P_n、G_s和WUE持续下降,F_v/F_m、Φ_PSⅡ、q_P和ETR下降幅度明显增大,F_o显著上升,而NPQ下降.低浓度PEG处理导致麻疯树叶片P_n下降主要是由气孔因素造成的;在高浓度PEG处理下,P_n的下降则是由非气孔和气孔因素的共同限制作用造成的.当PEG浓度<20%时,虽然出现P_n下降,但光合机构未受损伤.经15 d高浓度PEG处理的植株叶片,在胁迫解除后光合活性能够迅速恢复,且植株可以存活.说明麻疯树对干旱胁迫有较强的耐受能力.     

Modifications in photosystem II photochemistry in senescent leaves of maize plants

Analyses of CO2 exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were carried out to assess photosynthetic performance during senescence of maize leaves. Senescent leaves displayed a significant decrease in CO2 assimilatory capacity accompanied by a decrease in stomatal conductance and an increase in intercellular CO2 concentration. The analyses of fluorescence quenching under steady-state photosynthesis showed that senescence resulted in an increase in non-photochemical quenching and a decrease in photo-chemical quenching. It also resulted in a decrease in the efficiency of excitation energy capture by open PSII reaction centres and the quantum yield of PSII electron transport, but had very little effect on the maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry. The results determined from the fast fluorescence induction kinetics indicated an increase in the proportion of QB-non-reducing PSII reaction centres and a decrease in the rate of QA reduction in senescent leaves. Theoretical analyses of fluorescence parameters under steady-state photosynthesis suggest that the increase in the non-photochemical quenching was due to an increase in the rate constant to thermal dissipation of excitation energy by PSII and that the decrease in the quantum yield of PSII electron transport was associated with a decrease in the rate constant of PSII photochemistry. Based on these results, it is suggested that the decrease in the quantum yield of PSII electron transport in senescent leaves was down-regulated by an increase in the proportion of QB-non-reducing PSII reaction centres and in the non-photochemical quenching. The photosynthetic electron transport would thus match the decreased demand for ATP and NADPH in carbon assimilation which was inhibited significantly in senescent leaves.Key words: Chlorophyll fluorescence, gas exchange, maize (Zea mays L.), photochemical and non-photochemical quenching, photosystem II photochemistry.      

草莓叶片光合作用对强光的响应及其机理研究

用便携式调制叶绿素荧光仪和光合仪研究了强光下草莓叶片荧光参数及表观量子效率的变化.结果表明,Fm、Fv/Fm、PSⅡ无活性反应中心数量和Q_A的还原速率在强光下降低,在暗恢复时升高;而PSⅡ反应中心非还原性Q_B的比例在强光下增加,在暗恢复时降低.上述荧光参数的变化幅度均以强光胁迫或暗恢复的前10 min最大.强光下Φ_PSII、ETR和qP先升高后降低,但qN先大幅度降低,然后小幅回升.强光处理4 h后,丰香和宝交早生的表观量子效率(AQY)分别降低了20.9%和37.5%;qE(能量依赖的非光化学猝灭)为NPQ(非光化学猝灭)的最主要成分.强光胁迫下丰香的Fo、Fm、Fv/Fm、Φ_PSII、ETR和AQY的变化幅度均明显比宝交早生小.DTT处理后,草莓叶片的Fm和Fv/Fm明显降低,Fo显著升高.可以认为,依赖叶黄素循环和类囊体膜质子梯度两种非辐射能量耗散在草莓叶片防御光损伤方面起着重要作用,丰香的光合机构比宝交早生更耐强光.     

Diurnal changes in photochemical efficiency,the reduction state of Q,radiationless energy dissipation,and non-photochemical fluorescence quenching in cacti exposed to natural sunlight in northern Venezuela

Summary Diurnal measurements of chlorophyll a fluorescence from cacti (Nopalea cochenillifera, Opuntia ficus-indica, and Opuntia wentiana) growing in northern Venezuela were used to determine photochemical fluorescence quenching related to the reduction state of the primary electron acceptor of PS II as well as non-photochemical fluorescence quenching which reflects the fraction of energy going primarily into radiationless deexcitation. The cladodes used in this study were oriented such that one surface received direct sunlight in the morning and the other one during the afternoon. Both surfaces exhibited large increases in radiationless energy dissipation from the photochemical system accompanied by decreases in PS II photochemical efficiency during direct exposure to natural sunlight. During exposure to sunlight in the morning, dissipation of absorbed light energy through photosynthesis and radiationless energy dissipation was sufficient to maintain Q, the primary electron acceptor for PS II, in a low reduction state. During exposure to sunlight in the afternoon, however, the reduction state of Q rose to levels greater than 50%, presumably due to a decrease in photosynthetic electron transport as the decarboxylation of the nocturnally accumulated malic acid was completed. Exposure to direct sunlight in the afternoon also led to more sustained increases in radiationless energy dissipation. Furthermore, the increases in radiationless energy dissipation during exposure of a water-stressed cladode of O. wentiana to direct sunlight were much greater than those from other well-watered cacti, presumably due to sustained stomatal closure and decreased rates of photosynthetic electron transport. These results indicate that the radiationless dissipation of absorbed light is an important process in these CAM plants under natural conditions, and may reflect a protective mechanism against the potentially damaging effects of the accumulation of excessive energy, particularly under conditions where CO₂ availability is restricted.Abbreviations CAM crassulacean acid metabolism - F _o instantaneous fluorescence emission - F _M maximum fluorescence emission - F _v variable fluorescence emission - K _D rate constant for radiationless energy dissipation in the antenna chlorophyll - PFD photon flux density - PS I photosystem I - PS II photosystem II - Q primary electron acceptor of photosystem II - q _NP non-photochemical fluorescence quenching - q _P photochemical fluorescence quenching - T _C cladode temperature     

State Transition,Is It a Photochemical or Non-photochemical Process in Leaf in Response to Irradiance?

The response of steady-state fluorescence (Fs) to irradiance in apple (Malus pumila Mill. cv. Tengmu No.1/Malus hupehensis Rehd.) leaf increased and decreased at light levels below and above 400 mmol.m-2.s-1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), respectively, while the light-adapted maximal fluorescence (Fm') and minimal fluorescence (Fo') decreased constantly with the increasing PPFD, and the closure of photosystem Ⅱ reaction center (PSⅡ RC) increased continuously, reflected by the chlorophyll fluorescence parameter of (Fs-Fo')/(Fm'-Fo'). These facts indicated that decrease of Fs above 400 mmol.m-2.s-1 PPFD was not caused by closure of PSⅡ RC, but was mainly resulted from the process of light transfer from light-harvesting complexⅡ (LHCⅡ) to PSⅡ RC. In the presence of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), an inhibitor of photosynthetic state transition, Fs kept on increasing in apple leaf at light levels from 400 to 700 mmol.m-2.s-1, which was the photosynthetic saturation irradiance of apple leaves. In addition, Fs still increased at light levels over 700 mmol.m-2.s-1 in apple leaf pre-treated with dithiothreitol (DTT), an inhibitor of xanthophyll cycle. These changes showed that state transition and xanthophyll cycle caused a decrease of Fs in apple leaf at light levels below and above the photosynthetic saturation irradiance, respectively. When apple leaf was pre-treated with NEM, the PSⅡ apparent rate of photochemical reaction (P-rate) and photochemical quenching (qP) decreased significantly in the light range of 600-800 mmol.m-2.s-1, but the non-photochemical quenching (qN) existed a small increase at 600-800 mmol.m-2.s-1 and a decrease above 800 mmol.m-2.s-1. These phenomena suggested that state transition was mainly a photochemical and a non-photochemical process in apple leaf responding to light lower and higher than photosynthetic saturation irradiance, respectively.     

Theoretical assessment of alternative mechanisms for non-photochemical quenching of PS II fluorescence in barley leaves

The components of non-photochemical chlorophyll fluorescence quenching (qN) in barley leaves have been quantified by a combination of relaxation kinetics analysis and 77 K fluorescence measurements (Walters RG and Horton P 1991). Analysis of the behaviour of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and oxygen evolution at low light (when only state transitions — measured as qN_t — are present) and at high light (when only photoinhibition — measured as qN_i — is increasing) showed that the parameter qN_t represents quenching processes located in the antenna and that qN_i measures quenching processes located in the reaction centre but which operate significantly only when those centres are closed. The theoretical predictions of a variety of models describing possible mechanisms for high-energy-state quenching, measured as the residual quenching, qN_e, were then tested against the experimental data for both fluorescence quenching and quantum yield of oxygen evolution. Only one model was found to agree with these data, one in which antennae exist in two states, efficient in either energy transfer or energy dissipation, and in which those photosynthetic units in a dissipative state are unable to exchange energy with non-dissipative units.Abbreviations: F_o, F_m room-temperature chlorophyll fluorescence yield with all centres open, closed - F_v variable fluorescence yield - LHC II light-harvesting chlorophyll-protein complex of PS II - PS I, PS II Photosystem I, II - P700, P680 primary donor in Photosystem I, II - Q_A primary electron acceptor of PS II - P_max maximum quantum yield of oxygen evolution - qN coefficient of non-photochemical quenching of variable fluorescence - qN_e, qN_t, qN_i coefficient of non-photochemical quenching due to high-energy-state, state transition, photoinhibition - qO coefficient of quenching of dark level fluorescence - qP coefficient of photochemical quenching of variable fluorescence - _P intrinsic quantum yield of open PS II reaction centres = _s/qP - _{PS 2} quantum yield of PS = qP × F_v/F_m - _S quantum yield of oxygen evolution = rate of oxygen evolution/light intensity     

Photosystem II reaction centre quenching: mechanisms and physiological role

Dissipation of excess absorbed light energy in eukaryotic photoautotrophs through zeaxanthin- and DeltapH-dependent photosystem II antenna quenching is considered the major mechanism for non-photochemical quenching and photoprotection. However, there is mounting evidence of a zeaxanthin-independent pathway for dissipation of excess light energy based within the PSII reaction centre that may also play a significant role in photoprotection. We summarize recent reports which indicate that this enigma can be explained, in part, by the fact that PSII reaction centres can be reversibly interconverted from photochemical energy transducers that convert light into ATP and NADPH to efficient, non-photochemical energy quenchers that protect the photosynthetic apparatus from photodamage. In our opinion, reaction centre quenching complements photoprotection through antenna quenching, and dynamic regulation of photosystem II reaction centre represents a general response to any environmental condition that predisposes the accumulation of reduced Q(A) in the photosystem II reaction centres of prokaryotic and eukaryotic photoautotrophs. Since the evolution of reaction centres preceded the evolution of light harvesting systems, reaction centre quenching may represent the oldest photoprotective mechanism.     

State of the phycobilisome determines effective absorption cross-section of Photosystem II in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

Quenching of excess excitation energy is necessary for the photoprotection of light-harvesting complexes. In cyanobacteria, quenching of phycobilisome (PBS) excitation energy is induced by the Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP), which becomes photoactivated under high light conditions. A decrease in energy transfer efficiency from the PBSs to the reaction centers decreases photosystem II (PS II) activity. However, quantitative analysis of OCP-induced photoprotection in vivo is complicated by similar effects of both photochemical and non-photochemical quenching on the quantum yield of the PBS fluorescence overlapping with the emission of chlorophyll. In the present study, we have analyzed chlorophyll a fluorescence induction to estimate the effective cross-section of PS II and compared the effects of reversible OCP-dependent quenching of PBS fluorescence with reduction of PBS content upon nitrogen starvation or mutations of key PBS components. This approach allowed us to estimate the dependency of the rate constant of PS II primary electron acceptor reduction on the amount of PBSs in the cell. We found that OCP-dependent quenching triggered by blue light affects approximately half of PBSs coupled to PS II, indicating that under normal conditions, the concentration of OCP is not sufficient for quenching of all PBSs coupled to PS II.     

两种化感物质对茄子幼苗光合作用及叶绿素荧光参数的影响

采用基质栽培,研究不同浓度的2,6-二叔丁基苯酚及邻苯二甲酸二甲酯对茄子幼苗光合作用及叶绿素荧光参数的影响.结果表明,两种化感物质使茄子叶片叶绿素含量、光合速率（P_n）、气孔导度（G_s）下降,细胞间隙CO₂浓度（C_i）先降低后升高;使茄子叶片的初始荧光(F_o)增加,PSⅡ最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)、光系统Ⅱ光合电子传递量子效率(Ф_PSⅡ)、光化学猝灭系数(q_P)、天线转化效率(F_v^' /F_m^′)降低.2,6-二叔丁基苯酚使茄子叶片非光化学猝灭系数(q_N)先升高后降低,邻苯二甲酸二甲酯使q_N低于对照,对茄子叶片光合机构造成了伤害.