Nitrogen supply as a factor influencing photoinhibition and photosynthetic acclimation after transfer of shade-grown Solanum dulcamara to bright light

Influence of Rootstock Genotype and Ploidy Level on Common Clementine (Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan) Tolerance to Nutrient Deficiency

Nutrient deficiency, in particular when this involves a major macronutrient (N, P, and K), is a limiting factor on the performance of plants in their natural habitat and agricultural environment. In the citrus industry, one of the eco-friendliest techniques for improving tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress is based on the grafting of a rootstock and a scion of economic interest. Scion tolerance may be improved by a tetraploid rootstock. The purpose of this study was to highlight if tolerance of a common clementine scion (C) (Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan) to nutrient deficiency could be improved by several diploid (2×) and their tetraploid (4×) counterparts citrus genotypes commonly used as rootstocks: Trifoliate orange × Cleopatra mandarin (C/PMC2x and C/PMC4x), Carrizo citrange (C/CC2x and C/CC4x), Citrumelo 4475 (C/CM2x and C/CM4x). The allotetraploid FlhorAG1 (C/FL4x) was also included in the experimental design. The impact of nutrient deficiency on these seven scion/rootstock combinations was evaluated at root and leaf levels by investigating anatomical parameters, photosynthetic properties and oxidative and antioxidant metabolism. Nutrient deficiency affects foliar tissues, physiological parameters and oxidative metabolism in leaves and roots in different ways depending on the rootstock genotype and ploidy level. The best known nutrient deficiency-tolerant common clementine scions were grafted with the doubled diploid Citrumelo 4475 (C/CM4x) and the allotetraploid FlhorAG1 (C/FL4x). These combinations were found to have less foliar damage, fewer changes of photosynthetic processes [leaf net photosynthetic rate (P net ), stomatal conductance (g s ), transpiration (E), maximum quantum efficiency of PSII (F v /F m ), electron transport rate (ETR), ETR/P net ], and effective quantum yield of PSII [Y(II)], less malondialdehyde accumulation in leaves and better functional enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems. Common clementine scions grafted on other 4× rootstocks did not show better tolerance than those grafted on their 2× counterparts. Chromosome doubling of rootstocks did not systematically improve the tolerance of the common clementine scion to nutrient deficiency.

Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus imbalance on photosynthetic traits of poplar Oxford clone under ozone pollution

Ozone (O₃) pollution and the availability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the soil both affect plant photosynthesis and chlorophyll (Chl) content, but the interaction of O₃ and nutrition is unclear. We postulated that the nutritional condition changes plant photosynthetic responses to O₃. An O₃-sensitive poplar clone (Oxford) was subject to two N levels (N0, 0 kg N ha^- 1; N80, 80 kg N ha^- 1), two P levels (P0, 0 kg P ha^- 1; P80, 80 kg P ha^- 1) and three levels of O₃ exposure (ambient concentration, AA; 1.5 × AA; 2.0 × AA) over a growing season in an O₃ free air controlled exposure (FACE) facility. The daily change of leaf gas exchange and dark respiration (R_d) were investigated at mid-summer (August). Chl a fluorescence was measured three times in July, August and September. At the end of the growing season, Chl content was measured. It was found that Chl content, the maximum quantum yield (F_v/F_m), Chl a fluorescence performance index (PI) and gas exchange were negatively affected by elevated O₃. Phosphorus may mitigate the O₃-induced reduction of the ratio of photosynthesis to stomatal conductance, while it exacerbated the O₃-induced loss of F_v/F_m. Nitrogen alleviated negative effects of O₃ on F_v/F_m and PI in July. Ozone-induced loss of net photosynthetic rate was mitigated by N in medium O₃ exposure (1.5 × AA). However, such a mitigation effect was not observed in the higher O₃ level (2.0 × AA). Nitrogen addition exacerbated O₃-induced increase of R_d suggesting an increased respiratory carbon loss in the presence of O₃ and N. This may result in a further reduction of the net carbon gain for poplars exposed to O₃.

Effects of nitrogen-deficiency on efficiency of light-harvesting apparatus in radish

Nitrogen starvation has been stated to reduce chlorophyll a and accessory pigments, decrease photosynthetic efficiency, as well as modify chloroplast thylakoid membranes. However, the impact of N-deficiency on light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis has not been well understood. In this study, efficiency and structure of light-harvesting complex under N-deficiency conditions were investigated in two radish cultivars (Raphanus sativus var. sativus 'Fluo HF1' and 'Suntella F1'). Light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis were investigated by measuring in vivo chlorophyll a prompt fluorescence signal. Acquired data were utilised in two ways: by plotting fast induction curves and calculating OJIP-test biophysical parameters. Detailed analysis of difference curves as well as OJIP-test results showed that major disturbances were associated with photosystem II and its subunits, including decoupling of light-harvesting complexes, dysfunction of oxygen-evolving complex, and reaction centres inactivation. The maximum quantum yield of photosystem II primary photochemistry was severely restricted, causing an inhibition in electron transport through successive protein complexes in the thylakoid membrane. Structural changes were demonstrated by recording images using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). TEM investigations showed intensive starch accumulation under N-deficiency. Rare thylakoid stacks distributed in tiny layers of stroma around grains and chloroplast periphery were observed in cells of N-deficient plants. The application of principal component analysis (PCA) on OJIP-test results allowed characterizing the dynamics of stress response and separating parameters according to their influence on plants stress response. 'Suntella F1' genotype was found to be more sensitive to nitrogen deficiency as compared to 'Fluo HF1' genotype.

Multiple feedbacks between chloroplast and whole plant in the context of plant adaptation and acclimation to the environment

This review focuses on feedback pathways that serve to match plant energy acquisition with plant energy utilization, and thereby aid in the optimization of chloroplast and whole-plant function in a given environment. First, the role of source-sink signalling in adjusting photosynthetic capacity (light harvesting, photochemistry and carbon fixation) to meet whole-plant carbohydrate demand is briefly reviewed. Contrasting overall outcomes, i.e. increased plant growth versus plant growth arrest, are described and related to respective contrasting environments that either do or do not present opportunities for plant growth. Next, new insights into chloroplast-generated oxidative signals, and their modulation by specific components of the chloroplast's photoprotective network, are reviewed with respect to their ability to block foliar phloem-loading complexes, and, thereby, affect both plant growth and plant biotic defences. Lastly, carbon export capacity is described as a newly identified tuning point that has been subjected to the evolution of differential responses in plant varieties (ecotypes) and species from different geographical origins with contrasting environmental challenges.

Our eclectic adventures in the slower eras of photosynthesis: from New England Down Under to biosphere 2 and beyond

This is a tale of a career in plant physiological ecology that enjoyed the freedom to address photosynthetic physiology and biochemistry in leaves of plants from diverse environments. It was supported by block funding (now sadly a thing of the past) for research at the Australian National University, by grants during appointments in the United States and in Germany, and by Columbia University. It became a "career experiment" in which long-term, high-trust support for curiosity-driven plant biology in Australia, and at times in the United States, led to surprisingly innovative results. Although the rich diversity of short-term competitive grant opportunities in the United States sustained ongoing research, it proved difficult to mobilize support for more risky long-term projects. A decade after the closure of the Biosphere 2 Laboratory, this article highlights the achievements of colleagues in experimental climate change research from 1998 to 2003.

Centelloside accumulation in leaves of Centella asiatica is determined by resource partitioning between primary and secondary metabolism while influenced by supply levels of either nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium

In the present study we aimed to investigate the relevance of either N, P or K supply for herb and leaf yield and for centelloside concentrations in Centella asiatica L. Urban leaves. In this regard, we elucidated the causal relationship between assimilation rate, leaf N, P and K concentrations, herb and leaf production, and centelloside accumulation. The experiments were conducted consecutively in a greenhouse where C. asiatica was grown in hydroponic culture and fertigated with nutrient solutions at either 0, 30, 60, 100 or 150% of the N, P or K amount in a standard Hoagland solution. In general, the increase in N, P or K supply enhanced assimilation rate and herb and leaf yield. However, exceeding specific thresholds, the high availability of one single nutrient caused lower leaf N concentrations and a decline in assimilation rate and plant growth. Irrespective of N, P and K supply, the leaf centelloside concentrations were negatively associated with herb and leaf yield, which is in accordance with the assumptions of the carbon/nutrient balance and the growth differentiation balance hypotheses. Moreover, we found strong negative correlations between saponins and leaf N concentrations, while the respective sapogenins were negatively correlated with K concentrations. Using C. asiatica as model system, our experiments reveal for the first time that the accumulation of saponins and sapogenins is affected by resource allocation between primary and secondary metabolism and that besides carbon, also nutrient availability is relevant for the regulation of the centelloside synthesis. Finally, our results highlight the huge potential of optimized and carefully controlled mineral nutrition of medicinal plants for steering the bio-production of high-quality natural products.

From ecophysiology to phenomics: some implications of photoprotection and shade-sun acclimation in situ for dynamics of thylakoids in vitro

Half a century of research into the physiology and biochemistry of sun-shade acclimation in diverse plants has provided reality checks for contemporary understanding of thylakoid membrane dynamics. This paper reviews recent insights into photosynthetic efficiency and photoprotection from studies of two xanthophyll cycles in old shade leaves from the inner canopy of the tropical trees Inga sapindoides and Persea americana (avocado). It then presents new physiological data from avocado on the time frames of the slow coordinated photosynthetic development of sink leaves in sunlight and on the slow renovation of photosynthetic properties in old leaves during sun to shade and shade to sun acclimation. In so doing, it grapples with issues in vivo that seem relevant to our increasingly sophisticated understanding of ΔpH-dependent, xanthophyll-pigment-stabilized non-photochemical quenching in the antenna of PSII in thylakoid membranes in vitro.

The rate-limiting step for CO(2) assimilation at different temperatures is influenced by the leaf nitrogen content in several C(3) crop species

Effects of nitrogen (N) supply on the limiting step of CO(2) assimilation rate (A) at 380 µmol mol(-1) CO(2) concentration (A(380) ) at several leaf temperatures were studied in several crops, since N nutrition alters N allocation between photosynthetic components. Contents of leaf N, ribulose 1·5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and cytochrome f (cyt f) increased with increasing N supply, but the cyt f/Rubisco ratio decreased. Large leaf N content was linked to a high stomatal (g(s) ) and mesophyll conductance (g(m) ), but resulted in a lower intercellular (C(i) ) and chloroplast CO(2) concentration (C(c) ) because the increase in g(s) and g(m) was insufficient to compensate for change in A(380) . The A-C(c) response was used to estimate the maximum rate of RuBP carboxylation (V(cmax) ) and chloroplast electron transport (J(max) ). The J(max) /V(cmax) ratio decreased with reductions in leaf N content, which was consistent with the results of the cyt f/Rubisco ratio. Analysis using the C(3) photosynthesis model indicated that A(380) tended to be limited by RuBP carboxylation in plants grown at low N concentration, whereas it was limited by RuBP regeneration in plants grown at high N concentration. We conclude that the limiting step of A(380) depends on leaf N content and is mainly determined by N partitioning between Rubisco and electron transport components.

Aspects of nitrogen metabolism in coffee plants

Coffee plants are highly N-demanding plants. Despite the importance of N nutrition for the development, acclimation and yield of coffee plants, there are few reports concerning N metabolism in this species. In this review, our intention is to summarize the information available in the literature and to point out the influence of environmental conditions on N assimilation, as well as comment and discuss some apparently contradictory results and raise and enlighten queries about N assimilation in coffee plants.

Photoprotection, not increased growth, characterizes the response of Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) seedlings to high light, even when resources are plentiful

•  To investigate the effects of resource limitation on the use of light by Engelmann spruce seedlings (Picea engelmannii), we examined the effects of nitrogen (N) supply on growth and physiological acclimation. •  Seedlings were grown under a factorial combination of two levels of light (100%, 33% full light) and two levels of N-supply (100 mg l^-1 and 10 mg l^-1 ). Biomass, foliage physiology, and pigment composition were measured. •  No significant differences were found in growth or photosynthetic capacity between seedlings grown under high and low light, regardless of whether seedlings were grown under conditions of high or low N-supply. Both a decrease in the capacity for light capture and an increase in the capacity for thermal dissipation of excess absorbed light occurred with growth at high relative to low light as well as at low relative to high N-supply. •  Damage to foliage from excess light appeared to be avoided through a combination of downward adjustments in chlorophyll and upward adjustments in photoprotective xanthophyll cycle carotenoids.

Leaf-level phenotypic variability and plasticity of invasive Rhododendron ponticum and non-invasive Ilex aquifolium co-occurring at two contrasting European sites

To understand the role of leaf-level plasticity and variability in species invasiveness, foliar characteristics were studied in relation to seasonal average integrated quantum flux density (Qint) in the understorey evergreen species Rhododendron ponticum and Ilex aquifolium at two sites. A native relict population of R. ponticum was sampled in southern Spain (Mediterranean climate), while an invasive alien population was investigated in Belgium (temperate maritime climate). Ilex aquifolium was native at both sites. Both species exhibited a significant plastic response to Qint in leaf dry mass per unit area, thickness, photosynthetic potentials, and chlorophyll contents at the two sites. However, R. ponticum exhibited a higher photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency and larger investment of nitrogen in chlorophyll than I. aquifolium. Since leaf nitrogen (N) contents per unit dry mass were lower in R. ponticum, this species formed a larger foliar area with equal photosynthetic potential and light-harvesting efficiency compared with I. aquifolium. The foliage of R. ponticum was mechanically more resistant with larger density in the Belgian site than in the Spanish site. Mean leaf-level phenotypic plasticity was larger in the Belgian population of R. ponticum than in the Spanish population of this species and the two populations of I. aquifolium. We suggest that large fractional investments of foliar N in photosynthetic function coupled with a relatively large mean, leaf-level phenotypic plasticity may provide the primary explanation for the invasive nature and superior performance of R. ponticum at the Belgian site. With alleviation of water limitations from Mediterranean to temperate maritime climates, the invasiveness of R. ponticum may also be enhanced by the increased foliage mechanical resistance observed in the alien populations.

Effects of season-dependent irradiance levels and nitrogen-deficiency on photosynthesis and photoinhibition in field-grown rice (Oryza sativa)

Photoinhibition and acclimation of photosynthesis in rice plants grown under N-sufficient (NS) and N-deficient (ND) field conditions were investigated during the tropical wet (WS) and dry (DS) seasons in the Philippines. Diurnal patterns of CO2 assimilation were examined. There was a transient peak in CO2 assimilation in the leaves of the NS plants in the early morning during the DS and the WS, which was not seen in the ND plants in either season. ND leaves had lower Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) contents and lower chlorophyll contents. A lowered quantum yield of photosystem II (phiPSII) was observed in the ND plants at an intermediate irradiance though no differences between N treatments were seen at high irradiance. Analysis of carotenoids indicated a small increase in the de-epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle (DES) at mid-day in the ND leaves compared to NS. Photoinhibition was greater in ND leaves when incident mid-day irradiance was increased by altering the leaf angle. Although Rubisco contents were lower in ND plants, photosynthesis in situ did not decline proportionally. For NS plants, Chlorophyll content, but not Rubisco content, was season-dependent and results are discussed in terms of the interaction between irradiance use and N content of rice leaves.

Nitrite-dependent nitric oxide production pathway: implications for involvement of active nitrogen species in photoinhibition in vivo

Air pollution studies have shown that nitric oxide (NO), a gaseous free radical, is a potent photosynthetic inhibitor that reduces CO2 uptake activity in leaves. It is now recognized that NO is not only an air pollutant but also an endogenously produced metabolite, which may play a role in regulating plant cell functions. Although many studies have suggested the presence of mammalian-type NO synthase (NOS) in plants, the source of NO is still not clear. There has been a number of studies indicating that plant cells possess a nitrite-dependent NO production pathway which can be distinguished from the NOS-mediated reaction. Nitrate reductase (NR) has been recently found to be capable of producing NO through one-electron reduction of nitrite using NAD(P)H as an electron donor. This review focuses on current understanding of the mechanism for the nitrite-dependent NO production in plants. Impacts of NO produced by NR on photosynthesis are discussed in association with photo-oxidative stress in leaves.

Photosynthetic CO(2) assimilation, chlorophyll fluorescence and photoinhibition as affected by nitrogen deficiency in maize plants

Effects of nitrogen deficiency on photosynthetic CO(2) assimilation, PSII photochemistry and photoinhibition were investigated in maize plants grown under natural illumination. Nitrogen-deficient plants had a significantly smaller CO(2) assimilatory capacity, but they showed little changes in the maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry, the rate of Q(A) reduction and the heterogeneity of PSII reaction centers, suggesting that nitrogen deficiency had little effects on PSII primary photochemistry and photoinhibition even under natural illumination. However, modifications in PSII photochemistry under the steady state of photosynthesis induced by nitrogen deficiency were observed. This is reflected in decreases in the quantum yield of PSII electron transport, the efficiency of excitation energy capture by open PSII reaction centers, and the photochemical quenching coefficient and an increase in the non-photochemical quenching coefficient. These results suggest that modifications of PSII photochemistry under the steady state of photosynthesis may be a mechanism to downregulate photosynthetic electron transport so that production of ATP and NADPH would be in equilibrium with the decreased demand in the Calvin cycle in nitrogen-deficient plants. On the other hand, the nitrogen-deficient plants still exhibited increased susceptibility to photoinhibition when exposed to very high irradiance, although nitrogen deficiency induced no photoinhibition under natural illumination. Our results suggest that such increased susceptibility to photoinhibition was associated with the increased accumulation of inactivated PSII reaction centers, the decreased capacity of non-photochemical quenching, and the increased fraction of the reduction state of Q(A).

Photosystem II acclimation to limiting growth light in fully developed leaves of Amaranthus hypochondriacus L., an NAD-ME C4 plant

A remarkable acclimation strategy was exhibited by Photosystem II when fully mature Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. plants grown at light sufficient (2000 μE m(-2) s(-1)) conditions were transferred to light limited environment (650 μE m(-2) s(-1)). There was a two pronged response of PS II to low growth light both by way of modulating the size of LHC II to offset the decrease in excitation energy capture and by decreased synthesis of reaction centre protein, D1 the later through depressed level of transcription of psbA gene. The molecular regulation of PS II under low light stress is discussed.

Exposure of Norway spruce to ozone increases the sensitivity of current year needles to photoinhibition and desiccation

Physiological effects of ozone exposure over three consecutive growing seasons on current year needles of Norway spruce were studied in open-top chambers, during daily Fumigation cycles in the summer, and after the termination of ozone fumigation in autumn 1990. The trees were exposed to two levels of ozone: charcoal filtered air and non-filtered air to which 30 nl I^-1 of ozone was added in three consecutive years from 1988 to 1990, daily from May to September (8 hours a day). Photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration and chlorophyll fluorescence were studied on selected days. Significant decreases in net photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence (F_N /F_M ) were found during periods with co-occurrence of high ozone concentrations And high light intensities, indicating interactions between effects of ozone and photoinhibition. After termination of fumigation enhanced rates of photosynthesis were seen in the trees which had been exposed to ozone. A significant decrease in F_N /F_M was found for twigs from ozone treated trees when exposed to severe desiccation.

Photosynthetic plasticity of two rain forest shrubs across natural gap transects

Photosynthetic plasticity of two congeneric shrub species growing under natural field conditions was compared along transects spanning two canopy gaps in a Costa Rican rain forest. Piper arieianum is a shadetolerant species common in successional and mature forests, whereas P. sancti-felicis is a pioneer species abundant in abandoned clearings and large gaps. Twenty potted cuttings of each species were placed at regular intervals along two east-west transects crossing a small branch-fall gap and a large tree-fall gap. Along the transects, the percent of full sun photon flux density varied from less than 2% to 45%. After six months of growth under these conditions, leaves were monitored for incident photon flux density, photographic measures of light availability, photosynthetic capacity (A_max), leaf nitrogen content, leaf chlorophyll content, and specific leaf mass. Although both species demonstrated considerable plasticity in A_max across gap transects, P. sancti-felicis leaves had a superior capacity to track closely variation in light availability, particularly in the larger gap. For regressions of A_max on measures of light availability, P. sancti-felicis consistently showed a 3.5 to 5-fold higher coefficient of determination (R²) and a 3 to 4-fold higher slope than P. arieianum. In both species leaf nitrogen content per leaf area increased significantly with light availability, although P. sancti-felicis, again, showed a much stronger relationship between these variables. Across the transects, mean chlorophyll content per unit leaf area did not differ significantly between the species, whereas mean chlorophyll content per unit leaf dry mass was 3-times greater in leaves of P. sancti-felicis. Piper arieianum exhibited highly significant increases in chlorophyll a:b ratio with increased light availability, whereas P. sancti-felicis lacked significant variation in this trait across a gradient of light availability. Mean specific leaf mass did not vary significantly between species across the gap transects. The nature of the light acclimatory response differs quantitatively and qualitatively between these species. An important constraint on light acclimation of the shade-tolerant P. arieianum is its inability to increase photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency under conditions of high light availability. The lack of plasticity in chlorophyll a:b ratios does not restrict light acclimation of A_max in P. sancti-felicis. Leaves of P. arieianum exhibited symptoms of chronic photoinhibition in exposed microsites within the large gap. Species differences in the capacity to finely adjust A_max across a wide range of light conditions may be attributed to their maximum growth potential. Light acclimation in species with low maximum growth potential may be constrained at the cellular level by rates of protein and chlorophyll synthesis and at the whole-plant level by low maximum rates of uptake and supply of nutrients and water. For P. arieianum, restriction of photosynthetic plasticity is likely to limit competitive abilities of plants in high-light conditions of large gaps and clearings, whereas observed habitat restrictions for P. sancti-felicis do not appear to depend upon the highly-developed capacity for adjustment of A_max observed in this species.

Photosynthesis of tropical tree seedlings in relation to light and nutrient supply

The photosynthetic performances of two tropical tree species, a pioneer Nauclea diderrichii (De Wilde.) Merrill, and a climax species Entandrophragma angolense (Welw.) C. DC., both from West Africa, were compared. Young plants were grown in controlled environments where photon flux density and nutrient supply were varied. A/C₁ curves of the two species were very similar, both showing an increased initial slope and maximal rate of photosynthesis when the leaves had been grown at high photon flux density. Nutrient supply had a similar, but smaller, influence. However, the pioneer Nauclea showed a greater increase in initial slope in relation to both light and nutrient supply. It also showed greater anatomical response to light, developing a second layer of palisade mesophyll when grown at high photon flux density. Light response curves of photosynthesis were also determined. The apparent quantum efficiency was insensitive to growing conditions, but the carboxylation rate, dark respiration and tight-saturated photosynthetic rate were sensitive to the light climate of growth. The pioneer Nauclea displayed an increase in assimilation rate as the photosynthetic photon flux density was increased beyond 300 μmol m^-2 s^-1 , but Entandrophragma did not, and often showed a decline.

Photoacclimation and photoinhibition in Ulva rotundata as influenced by nitrogen availability

Clonal tissue of the marine chlorophyte macroalga, Ulva rotundata Blid., was transferred from 100 to 1700 μmol photons · m(-2) · s(-1) under limiting (1.5 μM NH 4 (+) maximum, N/P=2) and sufficient (15 μM NH 4 (+) maximum, N/P=20) nitrogen supply at 18° C and 11 h light-13 h darkness daily. Photoinhibition was assayed by light-response curves (photosynthetic O2 exchange), and chlorophyll fluorescence at 77 K and room temperature. Daily surface-area growth rate (μSA) in N-sufficient plants increased sixfold over 3 d and was sustained at that level. During this period, respiration (R d) doubled and light-saturated net photosynthesis capacity (P m) increased by nearly 50%, indicating acclimation to high light. Quantum yield (ϕ) decreased by 25% on the first day, but recovered completely within one week. The ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence (F v/F m) also decreased markedly on the first day, because of an increase in initial fluorescence (F o) and a decrease in F m, and partially recovered over several days. Under the added stress of N deficiency, μSA accelerated fivefold over 4 d, despite chronic photoinhibition, then declined along with tissue-N. Respiration doubled, but P m decreased by 50% over one week, indicating inability to acclimate to high light. Both ϕ and F v/F m decreased markedly on the first day and did not significantly recover. Changes in F o, F m and xanthophyll-cycle components indicate concurrent photodamage to photosystem II (PSII) and photoprotection by thermal deexcitation in the antenna pigments. Increasing μSA coincided with photoinhibition of PSII. Insufficient diel-carbon balance because of elevated R d and declining P m and tissue-N, rather than photochemical damage per se, was the apparent proximate cause of decelerating growth rate and subsequent tissue degeneration under N deficiency in U. rotundata.

Control of photosynthesis by the carbohydrate level in leaves of the C4 plant Amaranthus edulis L

Photosynthesis was studied in relation to the carbohydrate status in intact leaves of the C4 plant Amaranthus edulis. The rate of leaf net CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance and intercellular partial pressure of CO2 remained constant or showed little decline towards the end of an 8-h period of illumination in ambient air (340 μbar CO2, 21% O2). When sucrose export from the leaf was inhibited by applying a 4-h cold-block treatment (1°C) to the petiole, the rate of photosynthesis rapidly decreased with time. After the removal of the cold block from the petiole, further reduction in photosynthetic rate occurred, and there was no recovery in the subsequent light period. Although stomatal conductance declined with time, intercellular CO2 partial pressure remained relatively constant, indicating that the inhibition of photosynthesis was not primarily caused by changes in stomatal aperture. Analysis of the leaf carbohydrate status showed a five- to sixfold increase in the soluble sugar fraction (mainly sucrose) in comparison with the untreated controls, whereas the starch content was the same. Leaf osmotic potential increased significantly with the accumulation of soluble sugars upon petiole chilling, and leaf water potential became slightly more negative. After 14 h recovery in the dark, photosynthesis returned to its initial maximum value within 1 h of illumination, and this was associated with a decline in leaf carbohydrate levels overnight. These data show that, in Amaranthus edulis, depression in photosynthesis when translocation is impaired is closely related to the accumulation of soluble sugars (sucrose) in source leaves, indicating feedback control of C4 photosynthesis. Possible mechanisms by which sucrose accumulation in the leaf may affect the rate of photosynthesis are discussed with regard to the leaf anatomy of C4 plants.

Photosynthesis and nitrogen relationships in leaves of C3 plants

The photosynthetic capacity of leaves is related to the nitrogen content primarily bacause the proteins of the Calvin cycle and thylakoids represent the majority of leaf nitrogen. To a first approximation, thylakoid nitrogen is proportional to the chlorophyll content (50 mol thylakoid N mol^-1 Chl). Within species there are strong linear relationships between nitrogen and both RuBP carboxylase and chlorophyll. With increasing nitrogen per unit leaf area, the proportion of total leaf nitrogen in the thylakoids remains the same while the proportion in soluble protein increases. In many species, growth under lower irradiance greatly increases the partitioning of nitrogen into chlorophyll and the thylakoids, while the electron transport capacity per unit of chlorophyll declines. If growth irradiance influences the relationship between photosynthetic capacity and nitrogen content, predicting nitrogen distribution between leaves in a canopy becomes more complicated. When both photosynthetic capacity and leaf nitrogen content are expressed on the basis of leaf area, considerable variation in the photosynthetic capacity for a given leaf nitrogen content is found between species. The variation reflects different strategies of nitrogen partitioning, the electron transport capacity per unit of chlorophyll and the specific activity of RuBP carboxylase. Survival in certain environments clearly does not require maximising photosynthetic capacity for a given leaf nitrogen content. Species that flourish in the shade partition relatively more nitrogen into the thylakoids, although this is associated with lower photosynthetic capacity per unit of nitrogen.