Influence of low temperatures on the growth and photosynthetic activity of industrial chicory, Cichorium intybus L. partim

S. Devacht, P. Lootens, I. Roldán-Ruiz, L. Carlier, J. Baert, J. Van Waes, E. Van Bockstaele

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):372 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0058-8

The cold stress effect on early vigour and photosynthesis efficiency was evaluated for five industrial chicory varieties with contrasting early vigour. The relationships between the growth and physiological parameters were assessed. The varieties were examined at three growth temperatures: 16 (reference), 8 (intermediate) and 4 °C (stress). The effect was measured using physiological processes (growth, photosynthesis, chlorophyll a fluorescence), and pigment content. The analysis of the measured growth parameters (dry leaf and root mass, and leaf area) indicated that temperature had a significant effect on the varieties, but the overall reaction...

Photosynthetic response of salt-tolerant and sensitive soybean varieties

K. X. Lu, B. H. Cao, X. P. Feng, Y. He, D. A. Jiang

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):381-387 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0059-7

The physiological response of two soybean varieties to salt stress was examined. The results showed that salt stress induced a significantly (p<0.01) lower decrease of the net photosynthetic rate (P _N) in salt-tolerant S111-9 than in salt-sensitive Glycine max. P _N decrease was positively related to the decrease of stomatal conductance (g _s) and intercellular CO₂ concentration (C _i) in S111-9, while with g _s in G. max. a threshold of relative water content (RWC) was found, above which a slight decrease in RWC lead to a sharp...

Blue radiation stimulates photosynthetic induction in Fagus sylvatica L.

M. Košvancová-Zitová, O. Urban, M. Navrátil, V. Špunda, T. M. Robson, M. V. Marek

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):388 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0060-1

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the spectral composition of incident radiation, as defined by the relative proportions of blue (B; λ_max = 455 nm) and red (R; λ_max = 625 nm) photons, can affect photosynthetic induction, since B photons stimulate stomatal opening and are more effectively absorbed by leaves than R photons. Different stages of photosynthetic induction, primarily determined by the photo-modulation of Rubisco activity and stomata opening, were investigated in dark-adapted leaves of Fagus sylvatica transferred to saturating irradiance [800µmol(photon) m^-2 s^-1]...

Single leaves photosynthetic characteristics of two insect-resistant transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) varieties in response to light

C. X. Sun, H. Qi, J. J. Hao, L. Miao, J. Wang, Y. Wang, M. Liu, L. J. Chen

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):399-408 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0061-0

How the photosynthetic characteristics of insect-resistant transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) respond to light or whether this genetic transformation could result in unintended effects on their photosynthetic and physiological processes is not well known. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the shapes of net photosynthetic rate (P _N), stomatal conductance (g _s), apparent light use efficiency (LUE_app) and water use efficiency (WUE) light-response curves for single leaves of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) and Bt+CpTI (cowpea trypsin inhibitor) transgenic cotton plants...

Content of carotenoids during ageing and senescence of tobacco leaves with genetically modulated life-span

D. Procházková, D. Haisel, N. Wilhelmová

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):409 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0062-z

We exploited leaves of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L., cv. Wisconsin 38) with introduced chimeric construct consisting of SAG12 promoter fused with ipt gene for cytokinin synthesis and therefore prolonged life-span. As a control we used its wild type. In 12-week-old plants, the first leaves of control plants showed senescence symptoms at the time of sampling. Carotenoid content decreased with increasing leaf age both in control and in transgenic plants. On the other hand, the first leaves of transgenic plants demonstrated better antioxidant capacity represented by carotenoids compared to the leaves of control plants of the same...

Effects of salt stress on growth, photosynthesis and solute accumulation in three poplar cultivars

W. Chen, D. Zou, W. Guo, H. Xu, D. Shi, C. Yang

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):415 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0063-y

This study compared the effects of salt (NaCl) stress on growth, photosynthesis and solute accumulation in seedlings of the three poplar (Populus bonatii) cultivars Populus × BaiLin-2 (BL-2), Populus × BaiLin-3 (BL-3), and Populus × Xjiajiali (XJJL). The results showed that BL-2 and BL-3 could not survive at a salinity level of 200 mM but XJJL grew well. The effect of moderate salt stress on leaf extension of the three cultivars was only slight. At a high level of salinity, however, NaCl clearly inhibited leaf extension of BL-2 and BL-3, whereas it did not affect that of XJJL, and the net photosynthetic rate (P _N)...

Leaf traits variation during leaf expansion in Quercus ilex L.

L. Gratani, A. Bonito

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):323 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0052-1

The morphological, anatomical and physiological variations of leaf traits were analysed during Quercus ilex L. leaf expansion. The leaf water content (LWC), leaf area relative growth rate (RGR_l) and leaf dry mass relative growth rate (RGR_m) were the highest (76±2 %, 0.413 cm² cm^-2 d^-1, 0.709 mg mg^-1 d^-1, respectively) at the beginning of the leaf expansion process (7 days after bud break). Leaf expansion lasted 84±2 days when air temperature ranged from 13.3±0.8 to 27.6±0.9 °C. The net photosynthetic rate (P _N), stomatal...

Photosynthesis of a temperate fallow C₃ herbaceous ecosystem: measurements and model simulations at the leaf and canopy levels

M. Gouasmi, P. Mordelet, V. Demarez, J. P. Gastellu-Etchegorry, V. Le Dantec, G. Dedieu, J. C. Menaut, J. C. Calvet, T. Lamaze

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):331 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0053-0

The objectives of the study were to characterize photosynthesis of temperate fallow C₃herbaceous species and examine the performance of a simple photosynthesis model (based on the Farquhar's equations) to simulate carbon fluxes at the leaf and canopy levels. The maximum rate of carboxylation at 25°C (V _m0) was estimated for sunlit leaves using in situ gas exchange data under saturating irradiance. Throughout the seasons, leaf measurements indicate that values of V _m0 were similar for the four major species of the fallow. The rate declined from March (100 µmol m^-2 s^-1)...

Photosynthesis parameters and activities of enzymes of oxidative stress in two young 'Chemlali' and 'Chetoui' olive trees under water deficit

M. Guerfel, Y. Ouni, D. Boujnah, M. Zarrouk

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):340 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0054-z

The effects of water deficit on photochemical parameters and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase were investigated in two olive cultivars differing in drought tolerance - 'Chemlali' and 'Chetoui'. After 30 days without irrigation, leaf water potential fell to -5.5 MPa that was accompanied by a marked decrease in net photosynthesis in 'Chetoui' olive cultivar. Maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry (F_v/F_m) decreased slightly in 'Chemlali' (28 %) and substantially in 'Chétoui' (47 %). Both cultivars showed a similar decline (about 25 %) in the photochemical quenching coefficient,...

Promotion of 5-aminolevulinic acid treatment on leaf photosynthesis is related with increase of antioxidant enzyme activity in watermelon seedlings grown under shade condition

Y. P. Sun, Z. P. Zhang, L. J. Wang

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):347 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0055-y

Watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Mansfeld] is a photophilic plant, whose net photosynthetic rate was significantly decreased when seedlings were grown under low light condition. However, treatment with 100 mg kg^-1 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) could significantly restore the photosynthetic ability under the environmental stress. The parameters of leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll modulated fluorescence and fast induction fluorescence of the ALA-treated plants were higher than that of the control. Additionally, ALA treatment increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and...

Expression, purification and preliminary crystallization study of RpaC protein from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803

E. Cséfalvay, M. Lapkouski, O. Komárek

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):355 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0056-x

State transitions in cyanobacteria are physiological adaptation mechanisms that change the interaction of the phycobilisomes with the photosystem I and photosystem II core complexes. This mechanism is essential for cyanobacteria at low light intensities. Previous studies of cyanobacteria have identified a gene named rpaC, which appears to be specifically required for state transitions. The gene product of rpaC is very probably a transmembrane protein that is a structural component of the phycobilisome-photosystem II supercomplex. However, the physiological role of RpaC protein is unclear.Here we report the construction of an expression...

Shade mitigates photoinhibition and enhances water use efficiency in kiwifruit under drought

G. Montanaro, B. Dichio, C. Xiloyannis

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):363 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0057-9

We tested the hypotheses that a reduction of incident light of 50 % over sun-acclimated leaves of water stressed kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa var. deliciosa) would (1) reduce stomatal limitations to carbon supply and (2) mitigate the inactivation of the primary photochemistry associated with photosystem (PS) II, thereby this increases carbon gain and water-use efficiency (WUE). Groups of field-grown vines were either shaded or left naturally exposed and subjected to progressive water stress in order to study moderately and severely droughted vines, while other groups were well irrigated. Daily variations in leaf gas exchange...

Short-term dynamics of stomatal response to sudden increase in CO₂ concentration in maize supplied with different amounts of water

J. Hladnik, K. Eler, K. Kržan, M. Pintar, D. Vodnik

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):422 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0065-9

Environmental factors that influence stomatal conductance (g _s) interact through a complex network of signal transduction and have therefore highly interdependent effect.In the present study we examined how plant water status affects stomatal sensitivity to the change of CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]). We investigated the short-term dynamic of stomatal response to a sudden [CO₂] increase (from 400 to 700 µmol(CO₂) mol^-1) in maize supplied with different amounts of water (resulting ψ_w = -0.35, -0.52 and -0.75 MPa). Gas exchange measurements were performed in...

Leaf rolling and photosystem II efficiency in Ctenanthe setosa exposed to drought stress

H. Nar, A. Saglam, R. Terzi, Z. Várkonyi, A. Kadioglu

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):429-436 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0066-8

Photochemical efficiency of PSII of Ctenanthe setosa was investigated to understand the photosynthetic adaptation mechanism under drought stress causing leaf rolling. Stomatal conductance (g _s), the levels of photosynthetic pigments and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence parameters were determined in leaves that had four different visual leaf rolling scores from 1 to 4, opened after re-watering and mechanically opened at score 4. g _s value gradually decreased in adaxial and abaxial surfaces in relation to scores of leaf rolling. Pigment contents decreased until score 3 but approached score 1 level at score 4....

Photorespiration and photoprotection of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon) under water stress

X. Guan, S. Gu

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):437 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0067-7

In order to investigate the photoprotective function of photorespiration in grapevine under water stress, potted grapevines (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon) were randomly divided into three uniform groups for well-watered [watered every morning to keep the relative water content (RWC) of soil over 70 %], water-stress adapted (drought-adapted at 30 % relative soil water content for 30 days), and water stress without adaptation treatment (water-stressed to 30 % relative soil water content for 3 days). Net assimilation rate (A _N), stomatal conductance (g _s), substomatal CO₂ concentration...

The relationship between CAM and leaf succulence in two epiphytic vines, Hoya carnosa and Dischidia formosana (Asclepiadaceae), in a subtropical rainforest in northeastern Taiwan

C. E. Martin, R. C. C. Hsu, T. C. Lin

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):445 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0068-6

Past reports of correlations between Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) and leaf succulence are based on multi-species comparisons. When different individuals of the same species were compared in two epiphytic CAM vines growing in a subtropical rainforest in northeastern Taiwan, the degree of CAM was not correlated with leaf thickness, a measure of succulence. Leaf chlorophyll (Chl) a and b concentrations and ratios correlated well with leaf succulence, indicating that differences in leaf succulence were likely a result of sun/shade adaptations, not photosynthetic pathway. These findings challenge the assumption that CAM-succulence correlations...

Isolation and characterization of photosystem II core complexes with high oxygen evolution activity from spinach using the non-ionic detergent 6-O-(N-heptylcarbamoyl)-methyl-α-D-glucopyranoside

R. K. Mishra

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):451 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0069-5

Two different kinds of oxygen evolving photosystem II (PSII) core complexes were isolated in the present study by solubilization of PSII enriched thylakoid membranes from spinach with the non-ionic detergent 6-O-(N-heptylcarbamoyl)-methyl-_α-D-glucopyranoside (Hecameg) under different conditions. The PSII core complex isolated at higher ionic strength was similar to that isolated by using octyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (OGP) and lacked the 23 and 17 kDa extrinsic proteins of the oxygen evolving complex but retained the 22 kDa PsbS protein. Solubilization of the PSII membranes with Hecameg at lower ionic strength allowed the isolation...

Modelling of carbon isotope discrimination by vegetation

D. Hidy, L. Haszpra, Z. Barcza, A. Vermeulen, Z. Tuba, Z. Nagy

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):457-470 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0070-z

The paper presents a simple box model simulating the temporal variation of atmospheric ¹³CO₂ concentration, atmospheric CO₂ mixing ratio and ¹³C content of plant material. The model is driven by observed meteorological and measured biosphere-atmosphere CO₂ exchange data. The model was calibrated and validated using measurements from a Hungarian atmospheric monitoring station. The simulated atmospheric stable carbon isotope ratio data agreed well with the measured ratios considering both the magnitude and the seasonal dynamics. Observed deviations between the measured and simulated δ¹³C_air...

Responses of the Antarctic microalga Koliella antarctica (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta) to cadmium contamination

N. La Rocca, C. Andreoli, G. M. Giacometti, N. Rascio, I. Moro

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):471-479 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0071-y

Ultrastructural and physiological effects of exposure to 1 ppm and 5 ppm of cadmium (Cd) on cultured cells of Koliella antarctica, a green microalga from Antarctica, were investigated. The amount of Cd in the alga rose with the increase of the metal concentration in the growth medium and most Cd remained outside the cells, bound to the components of the cell walls. The increase of Cd in the microalga was concomitant with the decrease of other elements, mainly calcium (Ca). Exposure to 1 ppm Cd slowed culture growth by inhibiting cell division and also caused the development of some misshapen cells with chloroplast showing disordered thylakoids....

The Purple Phototrophic Bacteria

M. Koblížek

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):480 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0072-x

Ivan Šetlík

Ondřej Prášil

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):321 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0051-2

Erratum to: Changes of net photosynthesis, antioxidant enzyme activities, and antioxidant contents of Liriodendron tulipifera under elevated ozone

S. Z. Ryang, S. Y. Woo, S. Y. Kwon, S. H. Kim, S. H. Lee, K. N. Kim, D. K. Lee

Photosynthetica 2009, 47(3):421 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-009-0064-x