Photosynthetic adaptation to polar life: Energy balance, photoprotection and genetic redundancy

The persistent low temperature that characterize polar habitats combined with the requirement for light for all photoautotrophs creates a conundrum. The absorption of too much light at low temperature can cause an energy imbalance that decreases photosynthetic performance that has a negative impact on growth and can affect long-term survival. The goal of this review is to survey the mechanism(s) by which polar photoautotrophs maintain cellular energy balance, that is, photostasis to overcome the potential for cellular energy imbalance in their low temperature environments. Photopsychrophiles are photosynthetic organisms that are obligately adapted to low temperature (0⁰- 15 °C) but usually die at higher temperatures (≥20 °C). In contrast, photopsychrotolerant species can usually tolerate and survive a broad range of temperatures (5⁰- 40 °C). First, we summarize the basic concepts of excess excitation energy, energy balance, photoprotection and photostasis and their importance to survival in polar habitats. Second, we compare the photoprotective mechanisms that underlie photostasis and survival in aquatic cyanobacteria and green algae as well as terrestrial Antarctic and Arctic plants. We show that polar photopsychrophilic and photopsychrotolerant organisms attain energy balance at low temperature either through a regulated reduction in the efficiency of light absorption or through enhanced capacity to consume photosynthetic electrons by the induction of O₂ as an alternative electron acceptor. Finally, we compare the published genomes of three photopsychrophilic and one photopsychrotolerant alga with five mesophilic green algae including the model green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. We relate our genomic analyses to photoprotective mechanisms that contribute to the potential attainment of photostasis. Finally, we discuss how the observed genomic redundancy in photopsychrophilic genomes may confer energy balance, photoprotection and resilience to their harsh polar environment. Primary production in aquatic, Antarctic and Arctic environments is dependent on diverse algal and cyanobacterial communities. Although mosses and lichens dominate the Antarctic terrestrial landscape, only two extant angiosperms exist in the Antarctic. The identification of a single 'molecular key' to unravel adaptation of photopsychrophily and photopsychrotolerance remains elusive. Since these photoautotrophs represent excellent biomarkers to assess the impact of global warming on polar ecosystems, increased study of these polar photoautotrophs remains essential.

The bright and shaded side of duneland life: the photosynthetic response of lichens to seasonal changes is species-specific

Terricolous lichens are relevant associates of biological soil crusts in arid and semiarid environments. Dunes are ecosystems of high conservation interest, because of their unique, vulnerable and threatened features. The function of lichens is affected by the changing seasons and different microhabitat conditions. At the same time, inland dunes are less investigated areas from the terricolous lichens point of view. We explored the effect of seasonal variation and different micro-environmental conditions (aspect) on the metabolic activity of five terricolous lichen species, representing various growth forms, in temperate semiarid grasslands. Populations of Cladonia foliacea, C. furcata, C. pyxidata group, Diploschistes muscorum and Thalloidima physaroides were investigated. Thalli sampled from the south-west and north-east facing microhabitats were studied by chlorophyll fluorescence analysis for 2 years. The present study aims to understand how changing climate (during the year) and aspect affect photosynthetic activity and photoprotection. Microclimatic data were also continuously recorded to reveal the background of the difference between microhabitat types. As a result, the air temperature, photosynthetically active radiation, soil temperature and vapour pressure deficit were significantly higher on south-west than on north-east facing microsites, where relative humidity and water content of soil proved to be considerably higher. Higher photosynthetic activity, as well as a higher level of photoprotection, was detected in lichens from north-east-oriented microsites compared with south-west populations. In addition, the difference between sun and shade populations varied seasonally. Since a species-specific response to both aspect and season was detected, we propose to investigate more than one species of different growth forms, to reveal the response of lichens to the changing environment in space and time.

Study of Ecophysiological Responses of the Antarctic Fruticose Lichen Cladonia borealis Using the PAM Fluorescence System under Natural and Laboratory Conditions

Antarctic lichens have been used as indicators of climate change for decades, but only a few species have been studied. We assessed the photosynthetic performance of the fruticose lichen Cladonia borealis under natural and laboratory conditions using the PAM fluorescence system. Compared to that of sun-adapted Usnea sp., the photosynthetic performance of C. borealis exhibits shade-adapted lichen features, and its chlorophyll fluorescence does not occur during dry days without rain. To understand its desiccation-rehydration responses, we measured changes in the PSII photochemistry in C. borealis under the average light intensity of dawn light and daylight and the desiccating conditions of its natural microclimate. Interestingly, samples under daylight and rapid-desiccation conditions showed a delayed reduction in Fv'/Fm' and rETRmax, and an increase in Y(II) and Y(NPQ) levels. These results suggest that the photoprotective mechanism of C. borealis depends on sunlight and becomes more efficient with improved desiccation tolerance. Amplicon sequencing revealed that the major photobiont of C. borealis was Asterochloris irregularis, which has not been reported in Antarctica before. Collectively, these results from both field and laboratory could provide a better understanding of specific ecophysiological responses of shade-adapted lichens in the Antarctic region.

Desiccation tolerance and lichenization: a case study with the aeroterrestrial microalga Trebouxia sp. (Chlorophyta)

A comparative study of isolated vs. lichenized Trebouxia sp. showed that lichenization does not influence the survival capability of the alga to the photo-oxidative stress derived from prolonged desiccation. Coccoid algae in the Trebouxia genus are the most common photobionts of chlorolichens but are only sporadically found in soil or bark outside of a lichen. They all appear to be desiccation tolerant, i.e. they can survive drying to water contents of below 10%. However, little is known about their longevity in the dry state and to which extent lichenization can influence it. Here, we studied the longevity in the dry state of the lichenized alga (LT) Trebouxia sp. in the lichen Parmotrema perlatum, in comparison with axenically grown cultures (CT) isolated from the same lichen. We report on chlorophyll fluorescence emission and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production before desiccation, after 15-45 days in the dry state under different combinations of light and air humidity and after recovery for 1 or 3 days in fully hydrated conditions. Both the CT and the LT were able to withstand desiccation under high light (120 µmol photons m(-2) s(-1) for 14 h per day), but upon recovery after 45 days in the dry state the performance of the CT was better than that of the LT. By contrast, the quenching of excess light energy was more efficient in the LT, at high relative humidities especially. ROS production in the LT was influenced mostly by light exposure, whereas the CT showed an oxidative burst independent of the light conditions. Although lichenization provides benefits that are essential for the survival of the photobiont in high-light habitats, Trebouxia sp. can withstand protracted periods of photo-oxidative stress even outside of a lichen thallus.

Changes in pools of depsidones and melanins, and their function, during growth and acclimation under contrasting natural light in the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria

This study analysed relationships between secondary chemistry, lichen growth rates and external habitat factors for two groups of UV-B-absorbing secondary compounds in the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria in order to test some hypotheses on their formation and function. Medullary depsidones and cortical melanins were quantified in thalli transplanted to three successional forest stands (shaded young forest, open old forest, sun-exposed clear-cut area) and subjected to different watering regimes (spraying with water, water + nitrogen, no spraying). Growth rates were already known. The total concentration of all seven depsidones was constant across the entire range of growth rates and sun exposures, showing that these depsidones serve functions other than photoprotection. Thalli from the well-lit transplantation sites had the highest synthesis of melanins. Within each forest type there was a trade-off between growth and melanin synthesis. Melanins and photosynthetic acclimation enhanced survival on a subsequent exposure to high light intensity, despite excessive temperatures resulting from higher absorption of solar energy in melanic thalli relative to pale thalli. In conclusion, the highly responsive melanic pigments play a photoprotective role in light acclimation, whereas the constant amount of depsidones across a wide spectrum of growth ranges and irradiances is consistent with herbivore defence functions.

Annual variation in photo acclimation and photoprotection of the photobiont in the foliose lichen Xanthoria parietina

Seasonal variation in maximal photochemical quantum yield (F(V)/F(M)) of photosystem II (PS II), light adapted quantum yield (Phi(II)) of PS II, non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), contents of chlorophylls, and xanthophyll cycle pigments (VAZ) was studied in Xanthoria parietina repeatedly sampled in one location in S Norway during one year. The seasonal course in the susceptibility to photoinhibition was evaluated as high light-induced changes (1,800 micromol photons m(-2) s(-1) for 24h) in F(V)/F(M), Phi(II), and NPQ, measured as the ability to recover after 2 and 20 h at low light in control thalli with a natural cortical parietin screen, and in thalli from which parietin had been removed prior to high light exposures. F(V)/F(M), Phi(II), chlorophyll content, and the conversion state of VAZ (DEPS) reached minimum in spring. At the same time, yearly maxima of VAZ content and NPQ were recorded. Thereafter, F(V)/F(M), Phi(II), and chlorophyll content increased gradually, reaching maximum values in late autumn. DEPS peaked already in summer. Similarly, VAZ and NPQ decreased from early summer until winter. All data show that the X. parietina photobiont acclimates to seasonal changes in solar radiation, consistent with the lichen's preference for well-lit habitats. However, a comparison with a study of seasonal acclimation in the X. parietina mycobiont shows that in order to understand the seasonal photobiont acclimation, one has to consider the seasonal variation in internal screening caused by the fungal regulation of the PAR-absorbing parietin. A joint effort of both bionts seems to be required to avoid serious photoinhibition.

Growth and ecophysiological acclimation of the foliose lichen Lobaria pulmonaria in forests with contrasting light climates

This study aims to assess biomass and area growth of 600 thalli of the old forest lichen, Lobaria pulmonaria, transplanted to three successional boreal forest stands with (1) natural rainfall regime, (2) additional moistening during dry days, and (3) additional moistening with added nutrients. Mean biomass growth during 100 days varied from 8.3% in the dark young spruce forest to 23.1% in the clear-cut area, with the old forest in between (16.0%). Additional moistening did not enhance lichen growth, probably because the transplantation period was wet. Nutrient additions slightly increased area growth compared to artificial water additions only. Growth was determined by a combination of external (forest stand, site factors) and internal factors (chlorophyll content, biomass per area). Transplants acclimated to high light by increasing thickness and chlorophyll a/b-ratio. Some visible bleaching and a strong positive correlation between chlorophyll content per area and lichen growth in clear-cuts suggest some high light-induced chlorophyll degradation. We believe that biomass growth and natural occurrence of L. pulmonaria is controlled by a delicate balance between light availability and desiccation risk, and that the species is confined to old forests due to a physiological trade-off between growth potential and fatal desiccation damage, both of which increase with increasing light. The discrepancy between potential and realized ecological niches is probably caused by a long-term risk to be killed in open habitats by high light during long periods with no rain.

Changes in macromolecular allocation in nondividing algal symbionts allow for photosynthetic acclimation in the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria

•   The lichen Lobaria pulmonaria survives large seasonal environmental changes through physiological acclimation to ambient conditions. •   We quantitated algal cell population, cell division and key macromolecular levels associated with photosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism in L. pulmonaria sampled from four seasons with contrasting environmental conditions in a deciduous forest. •   The algal symbiont population did not vary seasonally and cell division was restricted to the newest thallus margins. Nevertheless the symbiont concentrations of chlorophyll, PsbS, PsbA, and RbcL changed significantly through the seasons in the nondividing algal cells from older thallus regions. •   L. pulmonaria reversibly allocated resources toward photochemical electron generation and carbohydrate production through the spring, summer and fall, and towards photoprotective dissipation in the cold, high-light winter. Our study shows that large seasonal molecular acclimation in L. pulmonaria occurs within a nearly stable, nondividing algal cell population that maintains photosynthetic capacity through many years of changing environmental cues.

Photosynthesis of overwintering evergreen plants

In this review we focus on photosynthetic behavior of overwintering evergreens with an emphasis on both the acclimative responses of photosynthesis to cold and the winter behavior of photosynthesis in conifers. Photosynthetic acclimation is discussed in terms of the requirement for a balance between the energy absorbed through largely temperature-insensitive photochemical processes and the energy used for temperature-sensitive biochemical processes and growth. Cold acclimation transforms the xanthophyll-mediated nonphotochemical antenna quenching of absorbed light from a short-term dynamic response to a long-term sustained quenching for the whole winter period. This acclimative response helps protect the evergreen foliage from photooxidative damage during the winter when photosynthesis is restricted or prevented by low temperatures. Although the molecular mechanisms behind the sustained winter excitation quenching are largely unknown, it does involve major alterations in the organization and composition of the photosystem II antenna. In addition, photosystem I may play an important role in overwintering evergreens not only by quenching absorbed light photochemically via its support of cyclic electron transport at low temperatures, but also by nonphotochemical quenching of absorbed light irrespective of temperature. The possible role of photosystem II reaction centers in nonphotochemical quenching of absorbed energy in overwintering evergreens is also discussed. Processes like chlororespiration and cyclic electron transport may also be important for maintaining the functional integrity of the photosynthetic apparatus of overwintering evergreens both during periods of thawing in winter and during recovery from winter stress in spring. We suggest that the photosynthetic acclimation responses of overwintering evergreens represent specific evolutionary adaptations for plant species that invest in the long-term maintenance of leaf structure in cold climatic zones as exemplified by the boreal forests of the Northern Hemisphere.