Photosynthetica 2018, 56(2):527-536 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-017-0691-6

Changes in thermic limits and acclimation assessment for an alpine plant by chlorophyll fluorescence analysis: Fv/Fmvs. Rfd

A. V. Perera-Castro1, P. Brito1, A. M. González-Rodríguez1,*
1 Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

A comparison between maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm) and chlorophyll fluorescence decrease ratio (Rfd) for low and high temperature resistance was assessed in a seasonal study of the acclimation in Pterocephalus lasiospermus. Analyzing the regression adjustment of both parameters and the lethal temperatures (LT50), Rfd resulted in being a more sensitive indicator for low and high temperature treatments, since the thermic resistance estimated with Rfd parameter was never higher than those estimated with Fv/Fm. Furthermore, the use of Fv/Fm led to an overestimation of the acclimation phenomena, with 6ºC of a maximum difference between both parameters. Using Rfd as the indicator parameter, P. lasiospermus acclimated to low temperatures but it kept on being a sensitive species (the lowest LT50 values only achieved-9.9 ± 0.3ºC). bserved (LT50 around 43.5ºC). Thus, according to Rfd evaluation of the thermic threshold, this species could be in risk of damage at low temperatures in this alpine ecosystem.

Keywords: freezing acclimation; heat; high mountain; Teide National Park; temperature resistance; vitality index

Received: April 15, 2016; Accepted: December 8, 2016; Published: June 1, 2018Show citation

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Perera-Castro, A.V., Brito, P., & González-Rodríguez, A.M. (2018). Changes in thermic limits and acclimation assessment for an alpine plant by chlorophyll fluorescence analysis: Fv/Fmvs. Rfd. Photosynthetica, 56(2), 527-536. doi: 10.1007/s11099-017-0691-6.
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