CO2 photoassimilation and chlorophyll fluorescence in two clover species showing different response to O3

The current study evaluated photosynthetic processes in two clover species based on their performance under high O₃ conditions (150 nl l^–1 for 3 h). These species are Trifolium repens L. and Trifolium pratense L., which are well known for their different sensitivity to ozone. Ozone affected the two clover species very differently. In T. pratense, ozone induced visible symptoms of damage even though CO₂ photoassimilation, stomatal conductance and the electron transport rate were not affected. A decrease in the optimal quantum yield was observed in T. pratense immediately after the end of the period of O₃ stress but it reverted to a value similar to the control 24 h after removing the stress, indicating that non-irreversible photoinhibition had occurred. Data obtained for symptomatic T. pratense indicate that still-green living tissue of the leaf is able to carry out CO₂ assimilation; the only parameter found to be affected by O₃ was the efficiency of excitation capture. In T. repens, acute O₃ fumigation induced inhibition of photosynthetic activity, enhanced stomatal closure and increased the reduction state of the PSII primary acceptor. A possible explanation for the inhibition of photosynthesis could reside in inhibition of the Calvin cycle over-reducing PSII, thus increasing (1 – q_P) and increasing non-photochemical quenching.