Photosynthetica, 2017 (vol. 55), issue 2

Photosynthetica 2017, 55(2):360-367 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-016-0227-5

Light quality modifies the expression of photosynthetic genes in maize seedlings

T. D. Liu1,3, X. W. Zhang2,3, Y. Xu2,3,*, S. Q. Liu4, X. W. Chen2
1 College of Crop Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fujian, Fuzhou, China
2 College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fujian, Fuzhou, China
3 Center of Excellence for Research in Optoelectronic Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fujian, Fuzhou, China
4 Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jilin, Changchun, China

Although maize (Zea mays L.) plants utilize light efficiently, the expression of high light-efficient genes and stomatal factors is regulated by light conditions and affects photosynthesis of plants. In this study, we investigated the effects of different light qualities on the expression of the photosynthetic genes, such as pep1, pdk1, ZmSTOMAGEN, and psad1, and on stomatal function in maize seedlings. For both maize genotypes, Zhengdan 958 and Xianyu 335, light with wavelengths shorter than 490 nm enhanced the expression of pdk1 and ZmSTOMAGEN, whereas the expression of pdk1 positively correlated with ZmSTOMAGEN. Light with wavelengths longer than 630 nm or shorter than 490 nm (band pass filter) increased the expression of pep1 and psad1. Although the expression of four genes in Zhengdan 958 was significantly higher than that of Xianyu 335, changes in the expression of ZmSTOMAGEN, pdk1, or pep1 exerted no significant influence on stomatal function and photosynthetic rate. Our results suggest that light with wavelengths shorter than 490 nm promoted the expression of stomatal proteins and pdk1, facilitated the absorption of inorganic elements, and contributed to stomatal function in photosynthesis. Meanwhile, light with wavelengths longer than 630 nm inhibited the expression of pep1 and pdk1. Light with wavelengths longer than 630 nm or shorter than 490 nm promoted the expression of pep1, pdk1, and psad1.

Keywords: gas exchange; pdk1; pep1; phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase; psad1; stomata

Received: December 15, 2015; Accepted: March 23, 2016; Published: June 1, 2017Show citation

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Liu, T.D., Zhang, X.W., Xu, Y., Liu, S.Q., & Chen, X.W. (2017). Light quality modifies the expression of photosynthetic genes in maize seedlings. Photosynthetica, 55(2), 360-367. doi: 10.1007/s11099-016-0227-5.
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