Mehler Reaction: Friend or Foe in Photosynthesis?

Role of antioxidant pool in management of ozone stress through soil nitrogen amendments in two cultivars of a tropical legume

The present experiment was done on two different cultivars of a tropical legume, Cymopsis tetragonoloba L. Taub. (cluster bean) cvv. Pusa-Naubahar (PUSA-N) and Selection-151 (S-151). The experiment was conducted under ambient ozone (O3) conditions with inputs of three different doses of inorganic nitrogen (N1, recommended; N2, 1.5-times recommended and N3, 2-times recommended) as well as control plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of soil nitrogen amendments in management of ambient ozone stress in the two cultivars of C. tetragonoloba. Our experiment showed that nitrogen amendments can be an efficient measure to manage O3 injury in plants. Stimulation of antioxidant enzyme activities under nitrogen amendments is an important feature of plants that help plants cope with ambient O3 stress. Nitrogen amendments strengthened the antioxidant machinery in a more effective way in the tolerant cultivar PUSA-N, while in the sensitive cultivar S-151, avoidance strategy marked by more reduction in stomatal conductance was more prominent. Enzymes of the Halliwell-Asada pathway, especially ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase, were more responsive and synchronised in PUSA-N than S-151, under similar nitrogen amendment regimes and were responsible for the differential sensitivities of the two cultivars of C. tetragonoloba. The present study shows that 1.5-times recommended dose of soil nitrogen amendments was sufficient in partial mitigation of O3 injury and the higher nitrogen dose (2-times recommended, in our case), did not provide any extra advantage to the plant's metabolism compared with plants treated with the lower nitrogen dose (1.5-times recommended).

Longer Photoperiods with the Same Daily Light Integral Increase Daily Electron Transport through Photosystem II in Lettuce

Controlled environment crop production recommendations often use the daily light integral (DLI) to quantify the light requirements of specific crops. Sole-source electric lighting, used in plant factories, and supplemental electric lighting, used in greenhouses, may be required to attain a specific DLI. Electric lighting is wasteful if not provided in a way that promotes efficient photochemistry. The quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII), the fraction of absorbed light used for photochemistry, decreases with increasing photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Thus, we hypothesized that the daily photochemical integral (DPI), the total electron transport through photosystem II (PSII) integrated over 24 h, would increase if the same DLI was provided at a lower PPFD over a longer photoperiod. To test this, ΦPSII and the electron transport rate (ETR) of lettuce (Lactuca sativa 'Green Towers') were measured in a growth chamber at DLIs of 15 and 20 mol m-2 d-1 over photoperiods ranging from 7 to 22 h. This resulted in PPFDs of 189 to 794 μmol m-2 s-1. The ΦPSII decreased from 0.67 to 0.28 and ETR increased from 55 to 99 μmol m-2 s-1 as PPFD increased from 189 to 794 μmol m-2 s-1. The DPI increased linearly as the photoperiod increased, but the magnitude of this response depended on DLI. With a 7-h photoperiod, the DPI was ≈2.7 mol m-2 d-1, regardless of DLI. However, with a 22-h photoperiod, the DPI was 4.54 mol m-2 d-1 with a DLI of 15 mol m-2 d-1 and 5.78 mol m-2 d-1 with a DLI of 20 mol m-2 d-1. Our hypothesis that DPI can be increased by providing the same DLI over longer photoperiods was confirmed.

Responses of the kelp Saccharina latissima (Phaeophyceae) to the warming Arctic: from physiology to transcriptomics

The Arctic region is currently facing substantial environmental changes due to global warming. Melting glaciers cause reduced salinity environments in coastal Arctic habitats, which may be stressful for kelp beds. To investigate the responses of the kelp Saccharina latissima to the warming Arctic, we studied the transcriptomic changes of S. latissima from Kongsfjorden (Svalbard, Norway) over a 24-hour exposure to two salinities (Absolute Salinity [SA ] 20 and 30) after a 7-day pre-acclimation at three temperatures (0, 8 and 15°C). In addition, corresponding physiological data were assessed during an 11-days salinity/temperature experiment. Growth and maximal quantum yield for photosystem II fluorescence were positively affected by increased temperature during acclimation, whereas hyposalinity caused negative effects at the last day of treatment. In contrast, hyposalinity induced marked changes on the transcriptomic level. Compared to the control (8°C - SA 30), the 8°C - SA 20 exhibited the highest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), followed by the 0°C - SA 20. Comparisons indicate that S. latissima tends to convert its energy from primary metabolism (e.g. photosynthesis) to antioxidant activity under hyposaline stress. The increase in physiological performance at 15°C shows that S. latissima in the Arctic region can adjust and might even benefit from increased temperatures. However, in Arctic fjord environments its performance might become impaired by decreased salinity as a result of ice melting.

Can nutrient fertilization mitigate the effects of ozone exposure on an ozone-sensitive poplar clone?

We tested the independent and interactive effects of nitrogen (N; 0 and 80 kg ha^-1), phosphorus (P; 0, 40 and 80 kg ha^-1), and ozone (O₃) application/exposure [ambient concentration (AA), 1.5 × AA and 2.0 × AA] for five consecutive months on biochemical traits of the O₃-sensitive Oxford poplar clone. Plants exposed to O₃ showed visible injury and an alteration of membrane integrity, as confirmed by the malondialdehyde by-product accumulation (+3 and +17% under 1.5 × AA and 2.0 × AA conditions, in comparison to AA). This was probably due to O₃-induced oxidative damage, as documented by the production of superoxide anion radical (O₂^-, +27 and +63%, respectively). Ozone per se, independently from the concentrations, induced multiple signals (e.g., alteration of cellular redox state, increase of abscisic acid/indole-3-acetic acid ratio and reduction of proline content) that might be part of premature leaf senescence processes. By contrast, nutrient fertilization (both N and P) reduced reactive oxygen species accumulation (as confirmed by the decreased O₂^- and hydrogen peroxide content), resulting in enhanced membrane stability. This was probably due to the simultaneous involvement of antioxidant compounds (e.g., carotenoids, ascorbate and glutathione) and osmoprotectants (e.g., proline) that regulate the detoxification processes of coping with oxidative stress by reducing the O₃ sensitivity of Oxford clone. These mitigation effects were effective only under AA and 1.5 × AA conditions. Nitrogen and P supply activated a free radical scavenging system that was not able to delay leaf senescence and mitigate the adverse effects of a general peroxidation due to the highest O₃ concentrations.

Cold-priming of chloroplast ROS signalling is developmentally regulated and is locally controlled at the thylakoid membrane

24 h exposure to 4 °C primes Arabidopsis thaliana in the pre-bolting rosette stage for several days against full cold activation of the ROS responsive genes ZAT10 and BAP1 and causes stronger cold-induction of pleiotropically stress-regulated genes. Transient over-expression of thylakoid ascorbate peroxidase (tAPX) at 20 °C mimicked and tAPX transcript silencing antagonized cold-priming of ZAT10 expression. The tAPX effect could not be replaced by over-expression of stromal ascorbate peroxidase (sAPX) demonstrating that priming is specific to regulation of tAPX availability and, consequently, regulated locally at the thylakoid membrane. Arabidopsis acquired cold primability in the early rosette stage between 2 and 4 weeks. During further rosette development, primability was widely maintained in the oldest leaves. Later formed and later maturing leaves were not primable demonstrating that priming is stronger regulated with plant age than with leaf age. In 4-week-old plants, which were strongest primable, the memory was fully erasable and lost seven days after priming. In summary, we conclude that cold-priming of chloroplast-to-nucleus ROS signalling by transient post-stress induction of tAPX transcription is a strategy to modify cell signalling for some time without affecting the alertness for activation of cold acclimation responses.

The harsh life of an urban tree: the effect of a single pulse of ozone in salt-stressed Quercus ilex saplings

Ozone (O3) and salinity are usually tested as combined factors on plant performance. However, the response to a single episode of O3 in plants already stressed by an excess of NaCl as occurs in the natural environment has never been investigated, but is important given that it is commonly experienced in Mediterranean areas. Three-year-old Quercus ilex L. (holm oak) saplings were exposed to salinity (150 mM NaCl, 15 days), and the effect on photosynthesis, hydric relations and ion partitioning was evaluated (Experiment I). In Experiment II, salt-treated saplings were exposed to 80 nl l-1 of O3 for 5 h, which is a realistic dose in a Mediterranean environment. Gas exchanges, chlorophyll fluorescence and antioxidant systems were characterized to test whether the salt-induced stomatal closure limited O3 uptake and stress or whether the pollutant represents an additional stressor for plants. Salt-dependent stomatal closure depressed the photosynthetic process (-71.6% of light-saturated rate of photosynthesis (A380)) and strongly enhanced the dissipation of energy via the xanthophyll cycle. However, salt-treated plants had higher values of net assimilation rate/stomatal conductance (A/gs) than the controls, which was attributable to a greater mesophyll conductance gm/gs and carboxylation efficiency (higher gm/maximal rate of Rubisco carboxylation (Vcmax)), thus suggesting no damage to chloroplasts. O3 did not exacerbate the effect of salinity on photosynthesis, however a general enhancement of the Halliwell-Asada cycle was necessary to counteract the O3-triggered oxidative stress. Despite the 79.4% gs reduction in salt-stressed plants, which strongly limited the O3 uptake, a single peak in the air pollutant led to an additional burden for the antioxidant system when plants had been previously subjected to salinity.

Differentiation in light energy dissipation between hemiepiphytic and non-hemiepiphytic Ficus species with contrasting xylem hydraulic conductivity

Hemiepiphytic Ficus species (Hs) possess traits of more conservative water use compared with non-hemiepiphytic Ficus species (NHs) even during their terrestrial growth phase, which may result in significant differences in photosynthetic light use between these two growth forms. Stem hydraulic conductivity, leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were compared in adult trees of five Hs and five NHs grown in a common garden. Hs had significantly lower stem hydraulic conductivity, lower stomatal conductance and higher water use efficiency than NHs. Photorespiration played an important role in avoiding photoinhibition at high irradiance in both Hs and NHs. Under saturating irradiance levels, Hs tended to dissipate a higher proportion of excessive light energy through thermal processes than NHs, while NHs dissipated a larger proportion of electron flow than Hs through the alternative electron sinks. No significant difference in maximum net CO2 assimilation rate was found between Hs and NHs. Stem xylem hydraulic conductivity was positively correlated with maximum electron transport rate and negatively correlated with the quantum yield of non-photochemical quenching across the 10 studied Ficus species. These findings indicate that a canopy growth habit during early life stages in Hs of Ficus resulted in substantial adaptive differences from congeneric NHs not only in water relations but also in photosynthetic light use and carbon economy. The evolution of epiphytic growth habit, even for only part of their life cycle, involved profound changes in a suite of inter-correlated ecophysiological traits that persist to a large extent even during the later terrestrial growth phase.

Epiphytic bacteria on the Antarctic ice diatom Amphiprora kufferathii Manguin cleave hydrogen peroxide produced during algal photosynthesis

The Antarctic ice diatom Amphiprora kufferathii Manguin is always accompanied by epiphytic bacteria in its natural habitat. To investigate the nature of this relationship, axenic cultures of A. kufferathii were obtained by ampicillin treatment. Diatom cultures without bacteria were less dense. The bacteria were shown to consume hydrogen peroxide produced by the diatom during photosysnthesis and algal photosynthesis after a hydrogen peroxide shock recovered faster in the presence of bacteria. Three proteobacterial strains isolated from a culture of A. kufferathii were phylogenetically affiliated with the alphaproteobacterial genus Sulfitobacter, the gammaproteobacterial genus Colwellia, and the genus Pibocella of the Bacteriodetes. Native protein gel electrophoresis and enzyme activity staining revealed the presence of superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase in the isolated bacteria and in A. kufferathii cultures. Catalase was detected in bacterial extracts but not in axenic cultures of A. kufferathii. These observations indicate that the epiphytic bacteria make a significant contribution to the diatom's antioxidative defences. The relationship between the bacteria and A. kufferathii seems to be beneficial for both partners and enhances growth of Amphiprora in the sea ice.

Leaf age as a factor in anatomical and physiological acclimative responses of Taxus baccata L. needles to contrasting irradiance environments

To evaluate the acclimative ability of current-year and previous-year needles of a shade tolerant conifer Taxus baccata L. to contrasting irradiance conditions, seedlings were raised under 27% solar irradiance and at 3 years of age they were transferred to an experimental garden and grown for one season under full irradiance (HL), 18% irradiance (ML) or 5% irradiance (LL). Whereas previous year needles did not change anatomically, current year needles in HL were thicker and had a thicker palisade and spongy mesophyll, and greater leaf mass per area than ML or LL needles. LL needles had greater nitrogen concentration than HL needles irrespective of age but only previous year LL needles also had an increased N per area content, thanks to their lack of reduction in LMA. Adjustment of chlorophyll and carotenoid content occurred in both needle age classes with LL and ML needles having much higher concentrations but, in current year needles, only slightly higher per area content than HL needles. Chlorophyll a/b ratio was not affected by age or irradiance. These modifications had no significant effect on photosynthetic capacities, which did not significantly differ between the age classes in HL or LL treatment and between treatments. On the other hand, high growth irradiance resulted in a greater photochemical yield, photochemical quenching, apparent electron transport rate and inducible non-photochemical quenching in needles formed in the current season. In previous year needles, however, only inducible NPQ was enhanced by high irradiance with other parameters remaining identical among treatments. To test sensitivity to photoinhibition, at the end of the summer plants from the three irradiance levels were transferred to a HL situation and F (v)/F (M) was determined over the following 18 days. Sensitivity to photoinhibition was negatively related to growth irradiance and previous year needles were less photoinhibited than current year needles. Thus, differences in acclimation ability between needle age classes were most pronounced at the level of anatomy and light reactions of photosynthesis, both of which showed almost no plasticity in previous year needles but were considerably modified by irradiance in current year needles.

Knock-out of ferritin AtFer1 causes earlier onset of age-dependent leaf senescence in Arabidopsis

Ferritins are iron-storage proteins involved in the regulation of free iron levels in the cells. Arabidopsis thaliana AtFer1 ferritin, one of the best characterized plant ferritin isoforms to date, strongly accumulates upon treatment with excess iron, via a nitric oxide-mediated pathway. However other environmental factors, such as exposure to oxidative stress or to pathogen attack, as well as developmental factors regulate AtFer1 transcript levels. In particular, recent findings have highlighted an accumulation of the ferritin transcript during senescence. To investigate the physiological relevance of AtFer1 ferritin during senescence we isolated an Arabidopsis mutant knock-out in the AtFer1 gene, which we named atfer1-2. We analyzed it together with a second, independent AtFer1 KO mutant, the atfer1-1 mutant. Interestingly, both atfer1-1 and atfer1-2 mutants show symptoms of accelerated natural senescence; the precocious leaf yellowing is accompanied by accelerated decrease of maximal photochemical efficiency and chlorophyll degradation. However, no accelerated senescence upon dark treatment was observed in the atfer1 mutants with respect to their wt. These results suggest that AtFer1 ferritin isoform is functionally involved in events leading to the onset of age-dependent senescence in Arabidopsis and that its iron-detoxification function during senescence is required when reactive oxygen species accumulate.

A dip in the chlorophyll fluorescence induction at 0.2-2 s in Trebouxia-possessing lichens reflects a fast reoxidation of photosystem I. A comparison with higher plants

An unusual dip (compared to higher plant behaviour under comparable light conditions) in chlorophyll fluorescence induction (FI) at about 0.2-2 s was observed for thalli of several lichen species having Trebouxia species (the most common symbiotic green algae) as their native photobionts and for Trebouxia species cultured separately in nutrient solution. This dip appears after the usual O(J)IP transient at a wide range of excitation light intensities (100-1800 micromol photons m(-2) s(-1)). Simultaneous measurements of FI and 820-nm transmission kinetics (I(820)) with lichen thalli showed that the decreasing part of the fluorescence dip (0.2-0.4 s) is accompanied by a decrease of I(820), i.e., by a reoxidation of electron carriers at photosystem I (PSI), while the subsequent increasing part (0.4-2 s) of the dip is not paralleled by the change in I(820). These results were compared with that measured with pea leaves-representatives of higher plants. In pea, PSI started to reoxidize after 2-s excitation. The simultaneous measurements performed with thalli treated with methylviologen (MV), an efficient electron acceptor from PSI, revealed that the narrow P peak in FI of Trebouxia-possessing lichens (i.e., the I-P-dip phase) gradually disappeared with prolonged MV treatment. Thus, the P peak behaves in a similar way as in higher plants where it reflects a traffic jam of electrons induced by a transient block at the acceptor side of PSI. The increasing part of the dip in FI remained unaffected by the addition of MV. We have found that the fluorescence dip is insensitive to antimycin A, rotenone (inhibitors of cyclic electron flow around PSI), and propyl gallate (an inhibitor of plastid terminal oxidase). The 2-h treatment with 5 microM nigericin, an ionophore effectively dissipating the pH-gradient across the thylakoid membrane, did not lead to significant changes either in FI nor I(820) kinetics. On the basis of the presented results, we suggest that the decreasing part of the fluorescence dip in FI of Trebouxia-lichens reflects the activation of ferredoxin-NADP(+)-oxidoreductase or Mehler-peroxidase reaction leading to the fast reoxidation of electron carriers in thylakoid membranes. The increasing part of the dip probably reflects a transient reduction of plastoquinone (PQ) pool that is not associated with cyclic electron flow around PSI. Possible causes of this MV-insensitive PQ reduction are discussed.

Gradual increase in NaCl concentration overcomes inhibition of seed germination due to salinity stress in Sorghum bicolor (L.)

A gradual increase in NaCl concentration in the growth medium was used as a strategy to adapt sorghum plants (Sorghum bicolorL.) to relatively high concentrations of NaCl. over a period of 15 days, a low percentage (22.2%) of sorghum seeds germinated in 200 mM NaCl, but most of the seedlings obtained (85.8%) died. On the other hand, plants subjected to adaptation by a gradual increase in NaCl concentration in the growth medium became capable of growth in soil containing 300 mM NaCl. In general, salinization induced a highly significant decrease in fresh and dry masses, and in the pigment content of sorghum seedlings. The content of free amino acids and soluble carbohydrates increased with a rise in the salinization level, especially in the adapted sorghum plants. The adapted plants contained less Na+but more K+compared to the unadapted plants, especially when the plants were subjected to relatively high NaCl concentration. Plants adapted in soil showed a new peroxidase isoenzyme form (POX-4). The peroxidase band POX-1 was detected under salt stress in both adapted and unadapted plants. Under salt stress, indophenol oxidase and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase expressed new isoenzyme forms, IPOX-3 and IPOX-5, and GOT-2 and GOT-3, respectively. The induction of salt tolerance by a gradual increase in NaCl concentration for three weeks was recommended to overcome the inhibition of seed germination in saline soil.

Strategies to maintain redox homeostasis during photosynthesis under changing conditions

Plants perform photosynthesis and assimilatory processes in a continuously changing environment. Energy production in the various cell compartments and energy consumption in endergonic processes have to be well adjusted to the varying conditions. In addition, dissipatory pathways are required to avoid any detrimental effects caused by over-reduction. A large number of short-term and long-term mechanisms interact with each other in a flexible way, depending on intensity and the type of impact. Therefore, all levels of regulation are involved, starting from energy absorption and electron flow events through to post-transcriptional control. The simultaneous presence of strong oxidants and strong reductants during oxygenic photosynthesis is the basis for regulation. However, redox-dependent control also interacts with other signal transduction pathways in order to adapt metabolic processes and redox-control to the developmental state. Examples are given here for short-term and long-term control following changes of light intensity and photoperiod, focusing on the dynamic nature of the plant regulatory systems. An integrating network of all these mechanisms exists at all levels of control. Cellular homeostasis will be maintained as long as the mechanisms for acclimation are present in sufficiently high capacities. If an impact is too rapid, and acclimation on the level of gene expression cannot occur, cellular damage and cell death are initiated.

The effect of ozone on pollen development in Lolium perenne L

Perennial ryegrass plants (Lolium perenne L.) were exposed in "Closed-Top Chambers" to different ozone concentrations and to charcoal filtered ambient air to study the effect of ozone on the development of pollen. Ozone at ambient (65 nl l(-1), 8h) and elevated (110 nl l(-1), 4h) concentrations affected the maturing of pollen by inhibiting starch accumulation in pollen throughout the anther. Affected pollen persisted in the vacuolated state while normal pollen in the same anther were filled with amyloplasts. The percentage of underdeveloped pollen-determined in transversal sections-was significantly higher in exposed plants than in plants grown in filtered air. Results indicate that ozone stress was responsible for the disrupted development of pollen in L. perenne.

Decreased content of leaf ferredoxin changes electron distribution and limits photosynthesis in transgenic potato plants

A complete ferredoxin (Fd) cDNA clone was isolated from potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv Desiree) leaves. By molecular and immunoblot analysis, the gene was identified as the leaf-specific Fd isoform I. Transgenic potato plants were constructed by introducing the homologous potato fed 1 cDNA clone as an antisense construct under the control of the constitutive cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. Stable antisense lines with Fd contents between 40% and 80% of the wild-type level were selected by northern- and western-blot analysis. In short-term experiments, the distribution of electrons toward their stromal acceptors was altered in the mutant plants. Cyclic electron transport, as determined by the quantum yields of photosystems I and II, was enhanced. The CO2 assimilation rate was decreased, but depending on the remaining Fd content, some lines showed photoinhibition. The leaf protein content remained largely constant, but the antisense plants had a lower total chlorophyll content per unit leaf area and an increased chlorophyll a/b ratio. In the antisense plants, the redox state of the quinone acceptor A in photosystem II (QA) was more reduced than that of the wild-type plants under all experimental conditions. Because the plants with lower Fd amounts reacted as if they were grown under a higher light intensity, the possibility that the altered chloroplast redox state affects light acclimation is discussed.

Temporal mismatch between induction of superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase correlates with high H2O2 concentration in seawater from clofibrate-treated red algae Kappaphycus alvarezii

Algal cells have developed different strategies to cope with the common environmentally promoted generation of H(2)O(2), which include induction of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), massive H(2)O(2) release in seawater, and synthesis of volatile halocarbons by specific peroxidases. The antioxidant adaptability of the economically important carrageenophyte Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty (Gigartinales: Rhodophyta) was tested here against exposure to clofibrate (CFB), a known promoter of peroxisomal beta-oxidation in mammals and plants. Possibly as a consequence of CFB-induced H2O2 peroxisomal production, the maximum concentration of H(2)O(2) in the seawater of red algae cultures was found to occur (120+/-17 min) after the addition of CFB, which was followed by a significant decrease in the photosynthetic activity of PSII after 24 h. Interestingly, 4 h after the addition of CFB, the total SOD activity was about 2.5-fold higher than in the control, whereas no significant changes were observed in lipoperoxidation levels (TBARS) or in CAT and APX activities. The two H(2)O(2)-scavenging enzymes were only induced later (after 72 h), whereupon CAT showed a dose-dependent response with increasing concentrations of CFB. A more pronounced increase of TBARS concentration than in the controls was evidenced when a 50 microM Fe(2+/3+) solution (3:2 ratio) was added to CFB-treated cultures, suggesting that the combination of exacerbated H(2)O(2) levels in the seawater-in this work, caused by CFB exposure-and Fenton-reaction catalyst (ferric/ferrous ions), imposes harsh oxidative conditions on algal cultures. The bulk of data suggests that K. alvarezii possesses little ability to promptly induce CAT and APX compared to the immediately responsive antioxidant enzyme SOD and, to avoid harmful accumulation of H(2)O(2), the red alga presumably releases H(2)O(2) into the surrounding medium as an alternative mechanism.

Evidence for recycling of inorganic phosphate by wheat chloroplasts during photosynthesis at air levels of CO2 and O2

Phosphate recycling under photorespiratory conditions was investigated using intact wheat chloroplasts from Triticum aestivum (cv. Maris dove). A decline in the optimal Pi level needed to support steady-state photosynthesis was observed (a) as the bicarbonate supply became limiting, or (b) as oxygen concentrations were increased. Further, at subsaturating CO2 and elevated O2 (52%), photosynthetic induction periods were shortest in the absence of exogenous Pi, and severely extended by its addition. Thus, photosynthesis under low CO2 levels which favor ribulose 1,5 bisphosphate (RuBP) oxygenase activity and glycolate synthesis by chloroplasts decreases their dependency on exogenous Pi from the initial illumination of chloroplasts through to the attainment of steady state rates of O2 evolution. Uptake of phosphate (Pi) was directly measured at ambient O2 concentrations and showed the stoichiometry of O2 evolved to Pi consumed at 10 mmol/L bicarbonate (saturating) had a mean value of 3.0, and was increased to 5.4 at 2.5 mmol/L bicarbonate and to > 8.0 at 1.0 mmol/L bicarbonate. The observation is consistent with enhanced stromal recycling of Pi released during hydrolysis of phosphoglycolate produced in greater quantities as the ratio of RuBP carboxylase relative to oxygenase activities (vc/vo) declines. The theoretical relationship between vc/vo and O2/Pi stoichiometries was derived and compared favorably to experimental data obtained.

Plant responses to abiotic stresses: heavy metal-induced oxidative stress and protection by mycorrhization

The aim of this review is to assess the mode of action and role of antioxidants as protection from heavy metal stress in roots, mycorrhizal fungi and mycorrhizae. Based on their chemical and physical properties three different molecular mechanisms of heavy metal toxicity can be distinguished: (a) production of reactive oxygen species by autoxidation and Fenton reaction; this reaction is typical for transition metals such as iron or copper, (b) blocking of essential functional groups in biomolecules, this reaction has mainly been reported for non-redox-reactive heavy metals such as cadmium and mercury, (c) displacement of essential metal ions from biomolecules; the latter reaction occurs with different kinds of heavy metals. Transition metals cause oxidative injury in plant tissue, but a literature survey did not provide evidence that this stress could be alleviated by increased levels of antioxidative systems. The reason may be that transition metals initiate hydroxyl radical production, which can not be controlled by antioxidants. Exposure of plants to non-redox reactive metals also resulted in oxidative stress as indicated by lipid peroxidation, H(2)O(2) accumulation, and an oxidative burst. Cadmium and some other metals caused a transient depletion of GSH and an inhibition of antioxidative enzymes, especially of glutathione reductase. Assessment of antioxidative capacities by metabolic modelling suggested that the reported diminution of antioxidants was sufficient to cause H(2)O(2) accumulation. The depletion of GSH is apparently a critical step in cadmium sensitivity since plants with improved capacities for GSH synthesis displayed higher Cd tolerance. Available data suggest that cadmium, when not detoxified rapidly enough, may trigger, via the disturbance of the redox control of the cell, a sequence of reactions leading to growth inhibition, stimulation of secondary metabolism, lignification, and finally cell death. This view is in contrast to the idea that cadmium results in unspecific necrosis. Plants in certain mycorrhizal associations are less sensitive to cadmium stress than non-mycorrhizal plants. Data about antioxidative systems in mycorrhizal fungi in pure culture and in symbiosis are scarce. The present results indicate that mycorrhization stimulated the phenolic defence system in the Paxillus-Pinus mycorrhizal symbiosis. Cadmium-induced changes in mycorrhizal roots were absent or smaller than those in non-mycorrhizal roots. These observations suggest that although changes in rhizospheric conditions were perceived by the root part of the symbiosis, the typical Cd-induced stress responses of phenolics were buffered. It is not known whether mycorrhization protected roots from Cd-induced injury by preventing access of cadmium to sensitive extra- or intracellular sites, or by excreted or intrinsic metal-chelators, or by other defence systems. It is possible that mycorrhizal fungi provide protection via GSH since higher concentrations of this thiol were found in pure cultures of the fungi than in bare roots. The development of stress-tolerant plant-mycorrhizal associations may be a promising new strategy for phytoremediation and soil amelioration measures.

Overexpression of C(4)-cycle enzymes in transgenic C(3) plants: a biotechnological approach to improve C(3)-photosynthesis

The process of photorespiration diminishes the efficiency of CO(2) assimilation and yield of C(3)-crops such as wheat, rice, soybean or potato, which are important for feeding the growing world population. Photorespiration starts with the competitive inhibition of CO(2) fixation by O(2) at the active site of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and can result in a loss of up to 50% of the CO(2) fixed in ambient air. By contrast, C(4) plants, such as maize, sugar cane and Sorghum, possess a CO(2) concentrating mechanism, by which atmospheric CO(2) is bound to C(4)-carbon compounds and shuttled from the mesophyll cells where the prefixation of bicarbonate occurs via phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) into the gas-tight bundle-sheath cells, where the bound carbon is released again as CO(2) and enters the Calvin cycle. However, the anatomical division into mesophyll and bundle-sheaths cells ("Kranz"-anatomy) appears not to be a prerequisite for the operation of a CO(2) concentrating mechanism. Submerged aquatic macrophytes, for instance, can induce a C(4)-like CO(2) concentrating mechanism in only one cell type when CO(2) becomes limiting. A single cell C(4)-mechanism has also been reported recently for a terrestrial chenopod. For over 10 years researchers in laboratories around the world have attempted to improve photosynthesis and crop yield by introducing a single cell C(4)-cycle in C(3) plants by a transgenic approach. In the meantime, there has been substantial progress in overexpressing the key enzymes of the C(4) cycle in rice, potato, and tobacco. In this review there will be a focus on biochemical and physiological consequences of the overexpression of C(4)-cycle genes in C(3) plants. Bearing in mind that C(4)-cycle enzymes are also present in C(3) plants, the pitfalls encountered when C(3) metabolism is perturbed by the overexpression of individual C(4) genes will also be discussed.

Ascorbate deficiency can limit violaxanthin de-epoxidase activity in vivo

As a response to high light, plants have evolved non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), mechanisms that lead to the dissipation of excess absorbed light energy as heat, thereby minimizing the formation of dangerous oxygen radicals. One component of NPQ is pH dependent and involves the formation of zeaxanthin from violaxanthin. The enzyme responsible for the conversion of violaxanthin to zeaxanthin is violaxanthin de-epoxidase, which is located in the thylakoid lumen, is activated by low pH, and has been shown to use ascorbate (vitamin C) as its reductant in vitro. To investigate the effect of low ascorbate levels on NPQ in vivo, we measured the induction of NPQ in a vitamin C-deficient mutant of Arabidopsis, vtc2-2. During exposure to high light (1,500 micromol photons m(-2) s(-1)), vtc2-2 plants initially grown in low light (150 micromol photons m(-2) s(-1)) showed lower NPQ than the wild type, but the same quantum efficiency of photosystem II. Crosses between vtc2-2 and Arabidopsis ecotype Columbia established that the ascorbate deficiency cosegregated with the NPQ phenotype. The conversion of violaxanthin to zeaxanthin induced by high light was slower in vtc2-2, and this conversion showed saturation below the wild-type level. Both the NPQ and the pigment phenotype of the mutant could be rescued by feeding ascorbate to leaves, establishing a direct link between ascorbate, zeaxanthin, and NPQ. These experiments suggest that ascorbate availability can limit violaxanthin de-epoxidase activity in vivo, leading to a lower NPQ. The results also demonstrate the interconnectedness of NPQ and antioxidants, both important protection mechanisms in plants.

Inhibition of electron transport at the cytochrome b(6)f complex protects photosystem II from photoinhibition

Photoinhibition of photosystem II (PS II) activity was studied in thylakoid membranes illuminated in the presence of the inhibitor of the cytochrome b(6)f complex 2'iodo-6-isopropyl-3-methyl-2',4, 4'-trinitrodiphenylether (DNP-INT). DNP-INT was found to decrease photoinhibition. In the absence of DNP-INT, anaerobosis, superoxide dismutase and catalase protected against photoinhibition. No effect of these treatments was observed in the presence of DNP-INT. These data demonstrate that photoinhibition under these conditions is caused by reactive oxygen species which are formed most probably by the reduction of oxygen at photosystem I. The results are discussed in terms of the importance of photosynthetic control in protection against photoinhibition in vivo.

Electron flow to oxygen in higher plants and algae: rates and control of direct photoreduction (Mehler reaction) and rubisco oxygenase

Linear electron transport in chloroplasts produces a number of reduced components associated with photosystem I (PS I) that may subsequently participate in reactions that reduce O2. The two primary reactions that have been extensively studied are: first, the direct reduction of O2 to superoxide by reduced donors associated with PS I (the Mehler reaction), and second, the rubisco oxygenase (ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase EC 4.1.1.39) reaction and associated peroxisomal and mitochondrial reactions of the photorespiratory pathway. This paper reviews a number of recent and past studies with higher plants, algae and cyanobacteria that have attempted to quantify O2 fluxes under various conditions and their contributions to a number of roles, including photon energy dissipation. In C3 and Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants, a Mehler O2 uptake reaction is unlikely to support a significant flow of electron transport (probably less than 10%). In addition, if it were present it would appear to scale with photosynthetic carbon oxidation cycle (PCO) and photosynthetic carbon reduction cycle (PCR) activity This is supported by studies with antisense tobacco plants with reduced rubisco at low and high temperatures and high light, as well as studies with potatoes, grapes and madrone during water stress. The lack of significant Mehler in these plants directly argues for a strong control of Mehler reaction in the absence of ATP consumption by the PCR and PCO cycles. The difference between C3 and C4 plants is primarily that the level of light-dependent O2 uptake is generally much lower in C4 plants and is relatively insensitive to the external CO2 concentration. Such a major difference is readily attributed to the operation of the C4 CO2 concentrating mechanism. Algae show a range of light-dependent O2 uptake rates, similar to C4 plants. As in C4 plants, the O2 uptake appears to be largely insensitive to CO2, even in species that lack a CO2 concentrating mechanism and under conditions that are clearly limiting with respect to inorganic carbon supply. A part explanation for this could be that many algal rubsicos have considerably different oxygenase kinetic properties and exhibit far less oxygenase activity in air. This would lead to the conclusion that perhaps a greater proportion of the observed O2 uptake may be due to a Mehler reaction and less to rubisco, compared with C3 plants. In contrast to algae and higher plants, cyanobacteria appear to have a high capacity for Mehler O2 uptake, which appears to be not well coupled or limited by ATP consumption. It is likely that in all higher plants and algae, which have a well-developed non-photochemical quenching mechanism, non-radiative energy dissipation is the major mechanism for dissipating excess photons absorbed by the light-harvesting complexes under stressful conditions. However, for cyanobacteria, with a lack of significant non-photochemical quenching, the situation may well be different.

The evolution of photosynthetic capacity and the antioxidant enzymatic system during acclimatization of micropropagated Calathea plants

The effects of an increased PPFD on photosynthesis, the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus and the response of the antioxidant enzymatic system were studied during the ex vitro establishment of micropropagated Calathea 'Maui Queen' plantlets. Measured chlorophyll and carotenoids contents in ex vitro formed leaves were almost three times higher compared to the in vitro formed ones. At the end of the acclimatization, an inverse relation between PPFD and the chlorophyll (a+b)/carotenoids ratio was observed. During the first days after transplantation Calathea plants are not photosynthetically active, as is illustrated by the photosynthetic light response curves. With the appearance of new leaves, higher photosynthetic capacities were observed and light saturation point increased (days 17 and 25). Also the maximal photosynthetic efficiency enlarged as shown by the increased initial slope of the curves. F(v)/F(m) decreased directly after transplantation of the micropropagated plantlets, afterwards a recovery was observed, but highest F(v)/F(m) values were observed in low light (LL) plants. The photochemical quenching coefficient increased gradually during the first two weeks of the acclimatization. In high light (HL) plants, q(P) decreased directly after transfer, while this was not observed in LL and medium light (ML). During the acclimatization period to increasing light intensities significant changes in the activity of the antioxidant enzymatic system were observed. A decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was measured during the first half of the acclimatization period followed by a recovery in ML and HL plants by day 35. Dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) activity decreased during acclimatization. At the end of the experimental period the lowest levels were measured in ML plants. Catalase (CAT) activity increased significantly during the first two weeks after transfer, a clear inverse relationship to PPFD was detected. The relation between the adquisition of full photosynthetic capacity and the activation of the enzymatic antioxidant system in the leaves of calathea plants during ex vitro acclimatization is discussed.

Germination, seedling growth, some organic solutes and peroxidase expression of different Vicia faba lines as influenced by water sterss

The effect of water stress on the germination, seedling growth, organic solutes, peroxidase pattern and peroxidase activity of different Vicia faba lines was studied. Studies on germination in polyethylene glycol and in soil indicated that lines such as Line 2/4 which were able to germinate under water stress caused by high concentrations of polyethylene glycol, were also able to germinate and grow in soil with a low water content. While the fresh and dry masses of all the lines were markedly decreased as the water stress level increased, Line 2/4 exhibited higher dry matter than the other lines tested. Pigment contents were more or less unchanged in some lines (102, 159 and 2/4) but increased in others (67 and 103) as the stress level increased. In general, the soluble sugar, soluble protein, free amino acid and proline contents in the shoots and roots of all the tested lines progressively increased as the stress level increased. These values were higher in the plant shoots than in the roots except for Line 2/4, which was the only one that could be grown at 30 % field capacity, and which accumulated soluble sugars and free amino acids in the roots rather than in the shoots Differences in the peroxidase (POX) pattern were found among the roots and shoots of the tested lines. Under drought stress, the number and staining intensity of the POX bands as well as the POX activity were lower in the shoots than in the corresponding unstressed control plants, especially in the sensitive line (159). In the plant roots, while the number of peroxidase isoenzymes and peroxidase activity were reduced in the sensitive line, they were unaffected in the resistant line (2/4).

Antioxidant responses of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) to photoinhibition and oxidative stress induced by norflurazon under high and low PPFDs

Photooxidative damage is exacerbated by norflurazon (NF), which blocks carotenoid biosynthesis. This study examined the influence of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) on the overall responses of both non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants to NF-caused oxidative damage in leaves of cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Seven-day-old cucumber plants were exposed to NF under either low PPFD (30 µmol m(-2) s(-1)) or high PPFD (300 µmol m(-2) s(-1)) for 3 days. The NF plants exposed at high PPFD had lower levels of F(v)/F(m) ratio, quantum yield of electron transport, and 33-kDa protein of photosystem II as compared with the NF plants at low PPFD. In the NF plants, there was a reduction in total chlorophylls and carotenoids except newly formed zeaxanthin in either PPFD. The NF plants at high PPFD resulted in less level of photochemical quenching, q(P), and Stern-Volmer quenching, NPQ, than those of the plants at low PPFD, whereas both plants had similar level of non-photochemical quenching coefficient, q(N). However, the level of PPFD did not significantly affect the NF-caused induction of antioxidant enzymes including peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, and ascorbate peroxidase.

The role of photosynthetic electron transport in the oxidative degradation of chloroplastic glutamine synthetase

The stability of chloroplastic glutamine synthetase (GS; EC 6.3.1.2) was investigated under photooxidative stress using wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) leaves, chloroplasts, and chloroplast lysates. Illuminated seedlings sprayed with the superoxide radical (O-(2)) propagator methyl viologen showed rapid GS decline dependent on MV concentration and exposure time. Degradation products of approximately 39 and 31 kD were detected when chloroplast lysates containing both stroma and thylakoids were illuminated in the presence of MV or H(2)O(2). In all cases, GS cleavage was prevented by the addition of the electron transport inhibitor 3-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. Full protection against degradation could also be obtained by the incorporation of chelators or antioxidant enzymes. Maximal rates of degradation required the presence of transition metals and reducing compounds such as NADPH or dithiothreitol. Similar patterns of GS cleavage were obtained when seedlings were exposed to high doses of irradiation. The results indicate that chloroplastic GS is extremely prone to oxidative cleavage, and that reduced transition metals, presumably resulting from the destruction of iron-sulfur clusters by light-generated O-(2), play a crucial role in the degradation process. The physiological implications of GS lability to oxidative stress are discussed.

Photosystem-II damage and repair cycle in chloroplasts: what modulates the rate of photodamage ?

Organisms that rely on oxygenic photosynthesis are subject to the effects of photo-oxidative damage, which impairs the function of photosystem-II (PSII). This phenomenon has the potential to lower rates of photosynthesis and diminish plant growth. Experimental evidence shows that the steady-state oxidation-reduction level of the primary quinone acceptor (QA) of PSII is the parameter that controls photodamage under a variety of physiological and environmental conditions. When QA is reduced, excitation energy at PSII is dissipated via a charge-recombination reaction. Such non-assimilatory dissipation of excitation generates singlet oxygen that might act to covalently modify the photochemical reaction center chlorophyll. Under steady-state photosynthesis conditions, the reduction state of QA increases linearly with irradiance, thereby causing a correspondingly linear increase in the probability of photodamage. It is concluded that there is a low probability that photodamage will occur when QA is oxidized and excitation energy is utilized in electron transport, and a significantly higher probability when QA is reduced in the course of steady-state photosynthesis.

Flux control of the malate valve in leaf cells

The coupled processes of the chloroplast trans-envelope transport of malate and oxaloacetate and their interconversion as catalyzed by the stromal NADP-linked malate dehydrogenase are quantitatively analyzed by means of a steady-state model. The equation for the NADP-malate dehydrogenase reaction is developed. The empirical dependence of enzyme activity on NADPH and NADP+ is used to determine its actual activity. The trans-envelope counter exchange of malate and oxaloacetate is described by a kinetic model of the translocator. Kinetic parameters are derived from known data, except for the Km value and the maximum rate for oxaloacetate transport, which are estimated from oxaloacetate-dependent malate formation in isolated intact chloroplasts. Using the kinetic properties of the system and the known metabolite concentrations, the model demonstrates that photosynthetically generated NADPH can be exported efficiently from the chloroplasts to the cytosol by the malate-valve system. The transfer capacity of the malate valve is estimated not to exceed 20 mumol (mg Chl)-1 h-1 (or 5% of the electron transport) under normal physiological conditions. The possible role of the malate valve in leaf cells under normal conditions and during stress is discussed.

Physiological changes on agricultural crops induced by different ambient ozone exposure regimes: I. Effects on photosynthesis and assimilate allocation in spring wheat

Spring wheat (Triticum aeslivum cv. Nandu) cultivated under glasshouse conditions was exposed to ozone in large fumigation chambers for 2 wk. Different exposure regimes were applied as constant concentrations as well as with ozone peaks, partly under equal dose-conditions, in times of high solar radiation during different stages of development (seedling, late tillering, anthesis). Chlorophyll fluorescence was monitored and amounts of carbohydrates (hexoses, sucrose, starch) and chlorophyll were measured in young leaves (seedling) and flag leaves (late tillering, anthesis) during and after ozone exposure. Although seedlings showed no significant response in photosynthesis, strong effects on photosynthesis and carbohydrate accumulation were measured when plants were fumigated during anthesis, especially after a heat stress period preceding ozone treatments. Under equal dose conditions chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (F_v :F_m ) and electron transport rate decreased and sucrose content of flag leaves increased significantly if ozone at a concentration of 220 μg m^-3 was supplied for 4 h, indicating that peak concentrations show stronger effects than constant concentrations. The reaction of wheat plants is dependent on environmental conditions such as preceding heat stress and on the developmental stage during exposure. The results favour the hypothesis that photoinhibition and disturbance of photosynthesis are only secondary effects as a consequence of retarded sucrose export from the leaf, because of damage at the plasma membrane.