Glasman-Deal, H.: Science Research Writing for Non-Native Speakers of English

I. Štětinová

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):436 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0057-9

Comparison of parameters estimated from A/C_i and A/C_c curve analysis

W. Zeng, G. S. Zhou, B. R. Jia, Y. L. Jiang, Y. Wang

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):323-331 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0042-3

The parameters estimated from traditional A/C _i curve analysis are dependent upon some underlying assumptions that substomatal CO₂ concentration (C _i) equals the chloroplast CO₂ concentration (C _c) and the C _i value at which the A/C _i curve switches between Rubisco- and electron transport-limited portions of the curve (C _i-t) is set to a constant. However, the assumptions reduced the accuracy of parameter estimation significantly without taking the influence of C _i-t value and mesophyll conductance...

Use of a SPAD meter to estimate chlorophyll content in Eugenia uniflora L. leaves as affected by contrasting light environments and soil flooding

M. S. Mielke, B. Schaffer, C. Li

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):332-338 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0043-2

In three separate experiments, the effectiveness of a SPAD-502 portable chlorophyll (Chl) meter was evaluated for estimating Chl content in leaves of Eugenia uniflora seedlings in different light environments and subjected to soil flooding. In the first experiment, plants were grown in partial or full sunlight. In the second experiment plants were grown in full sunlight for six months and then transferred to partial sunlight or kept in full sunlight. In the third experiment plants were grown in a shade house (40% of full sunlight) for six months and then transferred to partial shade (25-30% of full sunlight) or full sunlight. In each...

Changes in photosynthesis, fluorescence, and nitrogen metabolism of hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida) in response to exogenous glutamic acid

C. Yu, D. G. Lv, S. J. Qin, L. Yang, H. Y. Ma, G. C. Liu

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):339-347 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0044-1

Photosynthesis, chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence, and nitrogen metabolism of hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bge.), subjected to exogenous L-glutamic acid (GLA) (200 mg l^-1, 400 mg l^-1, and 800 mg l^-1) that possibly affect secondary metabolic regulation, were measured. The results indicated that photosynthetic and fluorescence characteristics of hawthorn exhibited positive responses to the application of GLA. Different concentrations of GLA caused an increase in Chl content, net photosynthetic rate (P _N) and stomatal conductance (g _s) as well as transpiration rate (E),...

Differential photosynthetic performance of three Mediterranean shrubs under grazing by domestic goats

S. Redondo-Gómez, J. M. Mancilla-Leytón, E. Mateos-Naranjo, J. Cambrollé, A. Martín-Vicente

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):348-354 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0045-0

The impact of grazing by domestic goats, Capra hircus, on the photochemical apparatus of three co-ocurring Mediterranean shrubs, Erica scoparia, Halimium halimifolium, and Myrtus communis was evaluated. Seasonal course of gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic pigment concentrations were measured in the field in grazed and ungrazed plants. Net photosynthetic rate was higher in grazed plants of E. scoparia and H. halimifolium in May, while there were not significant differences in M. communis. Photosynthetic enhancement in grazed plants of E. scoparia could be explained largely...

Coordinate expression of light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b gene family of photosystem II and chlorophyll a oxygenase gene regulated by salt-induced phosphorylation in Dunaliella salina

W. M. Chen, N. Jin, Y. Shi, Y. Q. Su, B. J. Fei, W. Li, D. R. Qiao, Y. Cao

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):355-360 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0046-z

As a stress factor, salt induces the phosphorylation of light-harvesting chlorophyll (Chl) a/b proteins (LHCII) in Dunaliella salina. In this study, we found that the salt-induced phosphorylation of LHCII was not affected by phosphatase, and that salt simultaneously regulated both the phosphorylation of LHCII and the expression of genes encoding light-harvesting Chl a/b proteins of photosystem II (lhcb) and the gene encoding Chl a oxygenase (cao) in dark-adapted D. salina. The mRNA accumulation patterns of lhcb and cao were similar, which further affected the size of LHCII and the ratio...

Effects of water stress on photosynthetic activity, dry mass partitioning and some associated metabolic changes in four provenances of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss)

Y. X. Zheng, J. C. Wu, F. L. Cao, Y. P. Zhang

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):361-369 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0047-y

Chlorophyll (Chl) content, dry mass, relative water content (RWC), leaf mass per area (LMA), proline (Pro) content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activity, P _N-PAR response curves and gas exchange were studied to determine the effects of water stress on photosynthetic activity, dry mass partitioning and metabolic changes in four provenances of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss). The results indicated that provenance differences existed in the adaptation response to water stress that included changes to growth strategies coupled with ecophysiological and metabolic adjustments....

Photosynthetic traits of Carex cinerascens in flooded and nonflooded conditions

M. Li, G. Hou, D. Yang, G. Deng, W. Li

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):370-376 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0048-x

Gas exchange of Carex cinerascens was carried out in Swan Islet Wetland Reserve (29°48' N, 112°33' E). The diurnal photosynthetic course of C. cinerascens in the flooded and the nonflooded conditions were analyzed through the radial basis function (RBF) neural network approach to evaluate the influences of environmental variables on the photosynthetic activity. The inhibition of photosynthesis induced by soil flooding can be attributed to the reduced stomatal conductance (g _s), the deficiency of Rubisco regeneration and decreased chlorophyll (Chl) content. As revealed by analysis of artificial neural network (ANN) models,...

Changes of the photosynthetic behaviour in annual C₃ species at late successional stage under environmental drought conditions

M. Karatassiou, B. Noitsakis

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):377-382 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0049-9

Differences in structural, physiological, and biochemical features between C₃ and C₄ species resulted in different wateruse efficiencies and different adaptations to climate. This paper aimed at investigating, at a late successional stage, the water-use efficiency of two forage species, Dichanthium ischaemum and Dasypyrum villosum, which exhibit different growth forms (perenial, annual) and photosynthetic mechanisms (C₄ and C₃, respectively). The annual C₃ species Avena fatua, at an early successional stage, was included in our experiments to contrast its behaviour against...

Induction by drought of crassulacean acid metabolism in the terrestrial bromeliad, Puya floccosa

A. Herrera, C. E. Martin, W. Tezara, C. Ballestrini, E. Medina

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):383-388 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0050-3

In the terrestrial bromeliad, Puya floccosa, a value of carbon isotopic composition (δ¹³C) of -22‰ has been previously reported, suggesting the operation of weak and/or intermediate (C₃-CAM) crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). In order to characterize the operation of CAM in P. floccosa and its possible induction by drought, plants were grown in Caracas and subjected to four independent drought cycles. Additionally, since plants of this species grow in Venezuela in a large range of elevations, leaf samples were collected at elevations ranging from 725 to 2,100 m a.s.l. in the Venezuelan Andes and the...

Effects of enhanced atmospheric ammonia on photosynthetic characteristics of two maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars with various nitrogen supply across long-term growth period and their diurnal change patterns

L. X. Zhang, H. Qiang, S. Q. Li, X. L. Chen

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):389-399 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0051-2

We investigated the effect of enhanced atmospheric ammonia (NH₃) in combination with low and high nitrogen (LN and HN, respectively) growth medium on photosynthetic characteristics of two maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars (NE5 with high- and SD19 with low N-use efficiency) across long-term growth period and their diurnal change patterns exposed to 10 nl l^-1 and 1,000 nl l^-1 NH₃ fumigation in open-top chambers (OTCs). Regardless of the level of N in medium, increased NH₃ concentration promoted maximum net photosynthetic rate (P _max) and apparent quantum yield (AQY) of both cultivars...

The increase in unsaturation of fatty acids of phosphatidylglycerol in thylakoid membrane enhanced salt tolerance in tomato

Y. L. Sun, F. Li, N. Su, X. L. Sun, S. J. Zhao, Q. W. Meng

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):400-408 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0052-1

Overexpression of chloroplastic glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase gene (LeGPAT) in tomato increased cis-unsaturated fatty acid content in phosphatidylglycerol (PG) of thylakoid membrane. By contrast, suppressing the expression of LeGPAT decreased the content of cis-unsaturated fatty acid in PG. Under salt stress, sense transgenic plants exhibited higher activities of chloroplastic antioxidant enzymes, lower content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and less ion leakage compared with the wild type (WT) plants. The net photosynthetic rate (P _N) and the maximal photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m)...

Antisense-mediated suppression of tomato zeaxanthin epoxidase alleviates photoinhibition of PSII and PSI during chilling stress under low irradiance

N. Wang, B. Li, H. L. Feng, Q. Y. Zhang, X. H. Yang, Q. W. Meng

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):409-416 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0053-0

A tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) zeaxanthin epoxidase gene (LeZE) was isolated and antisense transgenic tomato plants were produced. Northern, southern, and western blot analyses demonstrated that antisense LeZE was transferred into the tomato genome and the expression of LeZE was inhibited. The ratio of (A+Z)/(V+A+Z) in antisense transgenic plants was maintained at a higher level than in the wild type (WT) plants under high light and chilling stress with low irradiance. The value of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) in WT and transgenic plants was not affected during the stresses. The oxidizable P700 and the maximal...

Increase of the expression and activity of ferredoxin-NADP⁺ oxidoreductase in the cells adapted to low CO₂ in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6803

Y. R. Liu, W. M. Ma, H. L. Mi

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):417-420 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0054-z

To investigate the effect of low CO₂ on the expression and activity of ferredoxin-NADP⁺ oxidoreductase (FNR) and this enzyme-mediated cyclic electron flow around photosystem I (cyclic PSI), the activity staining, immunoblotting and initial rate of P₇₀₀ ⁺ reduction were measured in high- or low-CO₂-grown (H or L)-cells of wild-type Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 (WT) and its ΔndhB mutant (M55). Major results were depicted as follows. (1) The protein levels and activity of FNR were remarkably stimulated in L-cells of both WT and M55 relative to that in their H-cells....

Diurnal and seasonal variation in photosynthesis of peach palms grown under subtropical conditions

M. L. S. Tucci, N. M. Erismann, E. C. Machado, R. V. Ribeiro

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):421-429 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0055-y

The Amazonian peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) has been grown for heart-of-palm production under subtropical conditions. As we did not see any substantial study on its photosynthesis under Amazonian or subtropical conditions, we carried out an investigation on the diurnal and seasonal variations in photosynthesis of peach palms until the first heart-of-palm harvest, considering their relationship with key environmental factors. Spineless peach palms were grown in 80-L plastic pots, under irrigation. Gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence emission measurements were taken in late winter, mid spring, mid summer and early autumn, from 7:00...

Gas-exchange characteristics, leaf water potential and chlorophyll a fluorescence in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) seedlings under water stress and recovery

K. Suresh, C. Nagamani, K. Ramachandrudu, R. K. Mathur

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):430-436 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0056-x

The gas-exchange characteristics, leaf water potential and chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) seedlings subjected to water stress and recovery were investigated in a greenhouse experiment. At 24 days after imposition of stress, leaf water potential in water-stressed seedlings was doubled compared to that of control and there was a drastic decline in gas-exchange parameters viz. photosynthesis, transpiration, and stomatal conductance. Water stress did not irreversibly affect gas-exchange parameters and quantum efficiency of photosystem II, as seedlings exhibited total recovery of photosynthetic...

Different growth and physiological responses to experimental warming of two dominant plant species Elymus nutans and Potentilla anserina in an alpine meadow of the eastern Tibetan Plateau

F. S. Shi, Y. Wu, N. Wu, P. Luo

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):437-445 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0058-8

The effects of experimental warming on the growth and physiology of grass Elymus nutans and forb Potentilla anserina were studied by using open-top chambers (OTCs) in an alpine meadow of the eastern Tibetan Plateau. The warming treatment increased mean air and soil surface temperatures by 1.53°C and 0.50°C, respectively, but it reduced soil relative water content in the surface layer. Experimental warming enhanced the growth and gas exchange of E. nutans, while it reduced those of P. anserina. Experimental warming resulted in an increased efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) in E. nutans, while decreasing it in P....

Relationships between gas-exchange characteristics and stomatal structural modifications in some desert grasses under high salinity

N. Naz, M. Hameed, M. Ashraf, F. Al-Qurainy, M. Arshad

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):446-456 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0059-7

Two populations, one from lesser saline Derawar Fort (DF) and the other from highly saline Ladam Sir (LS) in the Cholistan desert, for each of the five grass species, Aeluropus lagopoides, Cymbopogon jwarancusa, Lasiurus scindicus, Ochthochloa compressa, and Sporobolus ioclados were examined to investigate the influence of salinity on structural and functional characteristics of stomata. Salinity tolerance in A. lagopoides mainly depended on controlled transpiration rate (E) and high water-use efficiency (WUE), which was found to be regulated by fewer and smaller stomata on both leaf surfaces as well as stomatal encryption...

Influence of low temperatures on photosystem II photochemistry and expression of the NADPH:protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase in the alpine, subnival perennial, Chorispora bungeana

Y. H. Li, Z. L. Sun, X. L. Xu, M. Jin, Y. J. Liu, H. Zhang, L. Z. An

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):457-468 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0060-1

Low temperature significantly influences chloroplast development and chlorophyll (Chl) biosynthesis, so effect of coldness on Chl content and Chl fluorescence characteristics was investigated in C. bungeana (Chorispora bungeana Fisch. & C.A. Mey). The levels of transcript and protein of an enzymatic step during Chl biosynthesis in response to chilling (4°C) and freezing (-4°C) were also examined in this work. Significant reduction in total Chl content was observed, but the reduction was much less at 4°C than that at -4°C. Moreover, the maximal quantum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry, indicated by F_v/F_m,...

Pareek, A., Sopory, S.K., Bohnert, H.J., Govindjee (ed.): Abiotic Stress Adaptation in Plants. Physiological, Molecular and Genomic Foundation

J. Nauš

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):474 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0062-z

Water-use efficiency in Flaveria species under drought-stress conditions

M. C. Dias, W. Brüggemann

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):469-473 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0061-0

Environmental conditions that promote photorespiration are considered to be a major driving force for the evolution of C₄ species from C₃ ancestors. The genus Flaveria contains C₃ and C₄ species as well as a variety of intermediate species. In this study, we compare the water-use efficiency of intermediate Flaveria species to that of C₃ and C₄ species. The results indicate that under both well-watered and a drought-stress condition, C₃-C₄ and C₄-like intermediacy in Flaveria species improve water-use efficiency as compared to C₃...

Pigment composition and functional state of the thylakoid membranes during preparation of samples for pigment-protein complexes separation by nondenaturing gel electrophoresis

V. Karlický, J. Podolinská, L. Nadkanská, M. Štroch, M. Čajánek, V. Špunda

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):475-480 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0063-y

The present study was conducted to examine changes in photosynthetic pigment composition and functional state of the thylakoid membranes during the individual steps of preparation of samples that are intended for a separation of pigmentprotein complexes by nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The thylakoid membranes were isolated from barley leaves (Hordeum vulgare L.) grown under low irradiance (50 μmol m^-2 s^-1). Functional state of the thylakoid membrane preparations was evaluated by determination of the maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem (PS) II (F_V/F_M) and by analysis...

Ján Hudák

Lubomír Nátr

Photosynthetica 2010, 48(3):321-322 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0041-4