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Characteristics of photosynthetic gas exchange, photoinhibition and C4 pathway enzyme activities in both flag leaves and lemma were compared between a superhigh-yield rice ( Oryza sativa L.) hybrid, Liangyoupeijiu and a traditional rice hybrid, Shanyou63. Liangyoupeijiu had a similar light saturated assimilation rate (Asat) to Shanyou63, but a much higher apparent quantum yield (AQY), carboxylation efficiency (CE) and quantum yield of CO2 fixation (ΦCO2). Liangyoupeijiu also showed a higher resistance to photoinhibition and higher non-radiative energy dissipation associated with the xanthophyll cycle than Shanyou63 when subjected to strong light. In addition, Liangyoupeijiu had higher activities of the C4 pathway enzymes in both flag leaves and lemmas than Shanyou63. These results indicate that higher light and CO2 use efficiency, higher resistance to photoinhibition and C4 pathway in both flag leaf and lemma may contribute to the higher yield of the superhigh-yield rice hybrid, Liangyoupeijiu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photosynthesis, photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry, photoinhibition and the xanthophyll cycle in the senescent flag leaves of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants grown in the field were investigated. Compared to the non-senescent leaves, photosynthetic capacity was significantly reduced in senescent flag leaves. The light intensity at which photosynthesis was saturated also declined significantly. The light response curves of PSII photochemistry indicate that a down-regulation of PSII photochemistry occurred in senescent leaves in particular at high light. The maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry in senescent flag leaves decreased slightly when measured at predawn but substantially at midday, suggesting that PSII function was largely maintained and photoinhibition occurred in senescent leaves when exposed to high light. At midday, PSII efficiency, photochemical quenching and the efficiency of excitation capture by open PSII centers decreased considerably, while non-photochemical quenching increased significantly. Moreover, compared with the values at early morning, a greater decrease in CO2 assimilation rate was observed at midday in senescent leaves than in control leaves. The levels of antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin via the de-epoxidation of violaxanthin increased in senescent flag leaves from predawn to midday. An increase in the xanthophyll cycle pigments relative to chlorophyll was observed in senescent flag leaves. The results suggest that the xanthophyll cycle was activated in senescent leaves due to the decrease in CO2 assimilation capacity and the light intensity for saturation of photosynthesis and that the enhanced formation of antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin at high light may play an important role in the dissipation of excess light energy and help to protect photosynthetic apparatus from photodamage. Our results suggest that the well-known function of the xanthophyll cycle to safely dissipate excess excitation energy is also important for maintaining photosynthetic function during leaf senescence. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Glutathione reductase plays a crucial role in the elimination of H 2 O 2 molecules via the ascorbate–glutathione cycle. In this study, we used transgenic Arabidopsis plants with decreased glutathione reductase 2 (GR2) levels to investigate whether this GR2 activity protects the photosynthetic machinery under excess light. The transgenic plants were highly sensitive to excess light and accumulated high levels of H 2 O 2 . Photosystem II (PSII) activity was significantly decreased in transgenic plants. Flash-induced fluorescence relaxation and thermoluminescence measurements demonstrated inhibition of electron transfer between Q A and Q B and decreased redox potential of Q B in transgenic plants. Immunoblot and blue native gel analysis showed that the levels of PSII proteins and PSII complexes were decreased in transgenic plants. Analyses of the repair of photodamaged PSII and in vivo pulse labeling of thylakoid proteins showed that the repair of photodamaged PSII is inhibited due to the inhibition of the synthesis of the D1 protein de novo in transgenic plants. Taken together, our results suggest that under excess light conditions, GR2 plays an important role in maintaining both the function of the acceptor side of PSII and the repair of photodamaged PSII by preventing the accumulation of H 2 O 2 . In addition, our results provide details of the role of H 2 O 2 in vivo accumulation in photoinhibition in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although the wheat hybrids have often shown higher grain yields, the physiological basis of the higher yields remains unknown. Previous studies suggest that tolerance to photoinhibition in the hybrid may be one of the physiological bases (, Plant Sci 171:389–97). The objective of this study was to further investigate the possible mechanism responsible for tolerance to photoinhibition in the hybrid. Photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry, the xanthophyll cycle, and antioxidative defense system were compared between the hybrid and its parents subjected to high light stress (1500μmolm−2 s−1). The analyses of oxygen-evolving activity, chlorophyll fluorescence, and protein blotting demonstrated that the higher tolerance in the hybrid than in its parents was associated with its higher tolerance of PSII to photoinhibition. High light induced an increase in non-photochemical quenching, and this increase was greater in the hybrid than in its parents. There were no differences in the pool size of the xanthophyll cycle between the hybrid and its parents. The content of violaxanthin decreased significantly, whereas the content of zeaxanthin+antherxanthin increased considerably during high light treatments. However, the decrease in violaxanthin content and the increase in zeaxanthin+antherxanthin content were greater in the hybrid than in its parents. High light resulted in a significant accumulation of H2O2, O2 − and catalytic Fe, and this accumulation was less in the hybrid than in its parents. High light induced a significant increase in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and monodehydroascorbate reductase, and these increases were greater in the hybrid than its parents. These results suggest that the higher tolerance to photoinhibition in the hybrid may be associated with its higher capacity for antioxidative defense metabolism and the xanthophyll cycle. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Iron superoxide dismutases (FeSODs) play an important role in preventing the oxidative damage associated with photosynthesis. To investigate the mechanisms of FeSOD in protection against photooxidative stress, we obtained transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants with severely decreased FeSOD by using a gene encoding tobacco chloroplastic FeSOD for the RNAi construct. Transgenic plants were highly sensitive to photooxidative stress and accumulated increased levels of O2 •− under normal light conditions. Spectroscopic analysis and electron transport measurements showed that PSII activity was significantly reduced in transgenic plants. Flash-induced fluorescence relaxation and thermoluminescence measurements revealed that there was a slow electron transfer between QA and QB and decreased redox potential of QB in transgenic plants, whereas the donor side function of PSII was not affected. Immunoblot and blue native gel analyses showed that PSII protein accumulation was also decreased in transgenic plants. PSII photodamage and D1 protein degradation under high light treatment was increased in transgenic plants, whereas the PSII repair was not affected, indicating that the stability of the PSII complex was decreased in transgenic plants. The results in this study suggest that FeSOD plays an important role in maintaining PSII function by stabilizing PSII complexes in tobacco plants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: To investigate how high light affects the responses of photosynthesis to heat stress, the effects of high temperature (25–42.5°C) either in the dark or in the light (1000μmolm−2 s−1) on photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry and the xanthophyll cycle were investigated in rice plants. At temperatures higher than 35°C, there was a decrease in the CO2 assimilation rate, and this decrease was greater in the light than in the dark. The maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry (F v/F m) showed no significant change in the dark, but did show a significant decrease in the light. In addition, there was an increase in non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and this increase was greater in the light than in the dark. Furthermore, the de-epoxidation status of the xanthophyll cycle increased significantly with increasing temperature in the light. Compared to the control leaves, the dithiothreitol-fed leaves showed a greater decrease in F v/F m but a very small increase in NPQ and de-epoxidation status of the xanthophyll cycle at temperatures higher than 35°C. On the other hand, the ascorbate-fed leaves showed less of a decrease in F v/F m but a greater increase in NPQ and the de-epoxidation status of the xanthophyll cycle. Ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities in leaves and chloroplasts were enhanced and this enhancement was greater in the light than in the dark. Heat stress had no significant effect on the contents of ascorbate and glutathione in leaves and chloroplasts in the dark, but led to an increase in the contents of reduced ascorbate and glutathione in leaves and chloroplasts in the light at the temperatures higher than 35°C. Our results suggest that the xanthophyll cycle plays an important role in protecting PSII against heat-induced photoinhibition by an increase in the ascorbate pool in the chloroplast. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Photosynthesis and its tolerance to photoinhibition, high temperature and drought stress of flag leaves were investigated in a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) hybridization line (1-12) and its parents (Jing-411 and Xiaoyan-54). From the beginning of flowering to the 10th day, light-saturated CO2 assimilation rate (P max) showed no significant decrease and P max of 1-12 was comparable to that of its parents. From the 20th day, P max decreased significantly and this decrease was much less in 1-12 than in its parents, whereas no decrease in chlorophyll content was observed in 1-12 and its parents on the 20th day, indicating that photo-oxidative damage occurred in 1-12 and its parents but 1-12 is more resistant to photo-oxidative damage than its parents. To further characterize photo-oxidative damage, tolerance to photoinhibition, high temperature and drought stress was compared in 1-12 and its parents. When exposed to high light (1400μmolm−2 s−1), the maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry (F v/F m) decreased significantly with increasing exposure time and such a decrease was much less in 1-12 than in its parents. When exposed to higher temperatures (30–45°C) for 15min, F v/F m started to decrease at 42°C in 1-12 and its parents. The greatest decrease in F v/F m was observed in Jing-411. 1-12 and Xiaoyan-54 showed a comparable decrease in F v/F m. Similar results were also observed in the actual PSII efficiency (Φ PSII), photochemical quenching (q P) and non-photochemical quenching (q N). During exposure of detached leaves to air under room temperature conditions, relative water content decreased with increasing exposure time. However, such a decrease was greatest in Jing-411 followed by Xiaoyan-54, and 1-12. There were neither changes in F v/F m nor q N during water loss in the line and its parents. However, there was a decrease in Φ PSII and q P and greatest decrease was observed in Jing-411 followed by Xiaoyan-54, and 1-12. Also, the decrease in P max was greatest in Jing-411, followed by Xiaoyan-54, and 1-12 during water loss. In addition, the activities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, pyruvate phosphate dikinase, NADP-malate dehydrogenase and NADP-malate enzyme were significantly higher in 1-12 than in its parents. The results in this study suggest that high resistance to photo-oxidative damage of the flag leaves in 1-12 may be the physiological basis for its high yield when grown in north China. Our results also suggest that parents can be selected for improved biochemical and physiological traits and crossed to high yielding agronomically elite materials which can be selected for higher performance in yield. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]