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The response of faba bean seedlings to the combined effects of increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations ([CO2]) and solar UV-B irradiance was studied using open-top chambers transparent to UV-B radiation. The purpose of the study was to determine whether effects of increased [CO2] on growth and physiology are modified by the present solar UV-B fluence rate in the Netherlands. Seedlings were exposed to 350 or 700 micromoles mol-1 CO2. At both [CO2], solar UV-B irradiance was either present or reduced using polyester foil opaque to UV-B radiation. To obtain information on the time dependence of increased [CO2] and UV-B radiation effects, three harvests were performed during the experiment. CO2 enrichment resulted in increased biomass production at all harvests. At the final harvest, UV-B radiation did not affect biomass production but a significant decrease was observed after 14 d of treatment. A reduction of the UV-B fluence increased shoot length at both [CO2] throughout the experiment. UV-B radiation slightly altered biomass allocation. Plants grown at reduced levels of UV-B radiation invested less biomass in flowers and more in stem material compared to plants grown at ambient UV-B levels. CO2 enrichment resulted in a stimulation of net photosynthesis after 26 and 38 d of treatment. UV-B reduction did not alter this response. After 26 d of treatment, photosynthetic acclimation to CO2 enrichment was observed, which was probably the result of accumulation of carbohydrates in the leaves. After 38 d, photosynthetic acclimation was no longer present. The UV absorbance of methanolic leaf extracts was increased by CO2 enrichment only. Both CO2 enrichment and solar UV-B reduced the transmittance of radiation through intact attached leaves. Interaction between [CO2] and UV-B radiation was limited to UV-A transmittance of leaves. Under prevalent experimental conditions, UV-B radiation did not affect the measured physiological parameters. Most open-top chambers used for climate change research are constructed of materials which do not transmit UV-B radiation. Our results indicate that part of the 'chamber effects' on plant height often described in the literature might be explained by the absence of solar UV-B radiation in these chambers.

Short-term ultraviolet (UV) radiation (280-400 nm) effects on xanthophyll cycle activity and photosynthesis were assessed during fluctuating irradiance (60- and 10-min cycles - saturating irradiance to near-zero irradiance) for the marine algae Thalassiosira weissflogii (Bacillariophyceae) and Dunaliella tertiolecta (Chlorophyceae). Laboratory cultures were cycled, as above, up and down the water column for 8 h under solar radiation, during which photosystem II (PSII) quantum yield in the light [(Fm, - Ft)/Fm,] was monitored over 1-min intervals. In addition, pigment composition, xanthophyll de-epoxidation state and carbon assimilation were assessed during the fluctuating irradiance cycles. Although PSII quantum yield in the light of both species mirrored irradiance, the PSII response to irradiance fluctuations changed over time as PSII quantum yield was downregulated at midday. This coincided with maximal xanthophyll de-epoxidation that developed during the course of the day for both species. In contrast to the deepoxidation levels, nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) and PSII quantum yield in the light fluctuated with the irradiance dynamics at noon in both species. Maximal xanthophyll de-epoxidation and NPQ at noon was lower under photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) + UV than under PAR exposure for T. weissflogii during the 10-min cycle, whereas this was not found for the 60-min cycle and in D. tertiolecta. Synthesis of xanthophyll cycle pigments occurred in both species, and was faster for D. tertiolecta during PAR + UV than during PAR exposure. Carbon incorporation and on most occasions PSII quantum yield in the light were lower during UV exposure for both species, regardless of xanthophyll de-epoxidation state. UV effects on carbon assimilation were higher during 10-min than during 60-min irradiance fluctuation cycles. However, the 10-min irradiance fluctuation cycle appeared to enhance overall carbon assimilation in D. tertiolecta but depressed productivity of T. weissflogii, as compared with the 60-min cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wavelength dependency of xanthophyll cycling in two marine microalgae (Thalassiosira weissflogii and Dunaliella tertiolecta) was studied by establishing biological weighting functions (BWFs) during exposure to natural ultraviolet radiation. High-(HL) and low-(LL) light-acclimated cultures of both species were exposed outdoors for up to 60 min under a series of UVR (280-400 nm) cut-off filters, after which the de-epoxidation state of xanthophyll cycle pigments, radiocarbon assimilation and photochemical quantum yield were measured. Exposures were repeated 4-8 times during the daily cycle to create exposure-response curves for each wavelength condition. UVR affected the three target processes significantly in both species and biological weights increased with decreasing wavelength, particularly in the UVBR region (280-315 nm). Minor wavelength dependency was observed between 315 and 360 nm. After BWF normalization to 300 nm, the LL cultures showed highly similar responses when comparing the three target processes, while the BWFs for the HL cultures differed significantly. The observed enhanced xanthophyll cycling activity in the UVR region implied that xanthophylls had an active role in diminishing UVR stress. However, this enhancement seems to be an indirect effect of damage within the dark reactions of photosynthesis. Hence, another vital target process further downstream in the photosynthetic process, possibly involved in the dark reactions, seems to be responsible for the high similarity in BWFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoacclimation properties were investigated in two marine microalgae exposed to four ambient irradiance conditions: static photosynthetically active radiation (PAR: 400–700 nm), static PAR + UVR (280–700 nm), dynamic PAR and dynamic PAR + UVR. High light acclimated cultures of Thalassiosira weissflogii and Dunaliella tertiolecta were exposed outdoors for a maximum of 7 days. Dynamic irradiance was established by computer controlled vertical movement of 2 L bottles in a water filled basin. Immediate (<24 h), short-term (1–3 days) and long-term (4–7 days) photoacclimation was followed for antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione cycling), growth and pigment pools. Changes in UVR sensitivity during photoacclimation were monitored by measuring UVR-induced inhibition of carbon assimilation under standardized UV conditions using an indoor solar simulator. Both species showed immediate antioxidant responses due to their transfer to the outdoor conditions. Furthermore, upon outdoor exposure, carbon assimilation and growth rates were reduced in both species compared with initial conditions; however, these effects were most pronounced in D. tertiolecta. Outdoor UV exposure did not alter antioxidant levels when compared with PAR-only controls in both species. In contrast, growth was significantly affected in the static UVR cultures, concurrent with significantly enhanced UVR resistance. We conclude that antioxidants play a minor role in the reinforcement of natural UVR resistance in T. weissflogii and D. tertiolecta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The river floodplain species Rorippa amphibia, Rorippa sylvestris, and their hybrid Rorippa×  anceps were studied here, with the aim of identifying potential species differences with respect to flooding tolerance, and of assessing their expression in F1 hybrids. • Parents and their F1 hybrids were subjected to three flooding treatments mimicking natural conditions, and growth-related and leaf morphological traits were compared. • In contrast to R. sylvestris, R. amphibia responded to waterlogging by forming specialized roots, and its growth was not reduced. These traits were dominantly expressed in hybrids. Both species and the hybrids established shoot growth over 2 wk of complete submergence. Only in R. sylvestris was this not at the expense of root biomass, suggesting that R. sylvestris can photosynthesize underwater. Rorippa sylvestris also showed a hyponastic response. Hybrids were intermediate to the parents in this respect. • This study shows that phenotypic expression of parental traits in F1 hybrids is mostly additive, but can also be dominant. This suggests that a large overlap in habitat use of parents and hybrids is likely. If such an overlap occurs, the main evolutionary consequences of hybridization in Rorippa will be the introgression of genes, as the hybrids are fully fertile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) holds a key position in the microalgal antioxidant network. The present research focused on oxidative stress responses in the Antarctic diatom Chaetoceros brevis F. Schütt during transition to excess (including ultraviolet radiation [UVR]) and limiting irradiance conditions. Over a 4 d period, cellular responses of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS, a general oxidative stress indicator), SOD activity, photosynthetic and xanthophyll cycle pigments, PSII efficiency, and growth were determined. In addition, oxidative responses were measured during a daily cycle. Changing irradiance conditions significantly affected growth rates of C. brevis. PSII efficiency decreased significantly during periodic excess irradiance and increased under low irradiance conditions. Transition to excess irradiance increased the ratio of xanthophyll to light-harvesting pigments, whereas the opposite was observed for cultures transferred to low irradiance. This acclimation process was completed after 2 d in the new irradiance environment. SOD activity increased significantly after the first day regardless of the new irradiance environment but returned to preexposure values on the fourth day. We hypothesize that SOD activity may be temporarily elevated in C. brevis after irradiance shifts, thereby reducing oxidative stress when photoacclimation is in progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential to acclimate photosynthesis to sub- and supra-optimal temperatures was investigated in seven isolates of Valonia utricularis (Roth) C. Agardh, a green macrophyte with a tropical to warm-temperate distribution. Photosynthesis-light response curves were obtained by measuring chlorophyll a fluorescence characteristics of algae grown at optimal (25°C), sub- and supra-optimal temperatures. Suboptimal temperatures were chosen to support 30% of the maximum relative growth rate in each isolate. Thermal acclimation was investigated by comparing short-term and long-term temperature effects on the initial rate of increase of the relative electron transport rate (rETR) and the maximum rETR under light-saturating conditions. Isolates from the northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean all showed a strong potential to acclimate maximum rETR to suboptimal growth temperatures, i.e. short-term temperature effects were diminished after acclimation. However, photoinhibition, measured as a decrease of the maximal quantum yield (Fv/Fm), was found when plants were grown at 30°C. The isolates reduced light harvesting at 30°C by decreasing total chlorophyll content and by increasing the chlorophyll a/b ratio. Up-regulation of photoprotective processes by the xanthophyll cycle pigments was not observed. In contrast, isolates from the Indo-west Pacific were unable to acclimate photosynthesis to suboptimal growth temperatures and these temperatures were strongly photoinhibiting, even though adjustments on the pigment level were observed. All Indo-west Pacific isolates reached comparable maximum rETR values at 30° and 25°C. Thus, the Atlantic/Mediterranean isolates had a stronger potential to acclimate photosynthetic rates at suboptimal growth temperatures compared to the Indo-west Pacific isolates, which was accompanied by losses at 30°C. The results are discussed in a biogeographical context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas exchange between the plant and the environment is severely hampered when plants are submerged, leading to oxygen and energy deficits. A straightforward way to reduce these shortages of oxygen and carbohydrates would be continued photosynthesis under water, but this possibility has received only little attention. Here, we combine several techniques to investigate the consequences of anatomical and biochemical responses of the terrestrial species Rumex palustris to submergence for different aspects of photosynthesis under water. The orientation of the chloroplasts in submergence-acclimated leaves was toward the epidermis instead of the intercellular spaces, indicating that underwater CO2 diffuses through the cuticle and epidermis. Interestingly, both the cuticle thickness and the epidermal cell wall thickness were significantly reduced upon submergence, suggesting a considerable decrease in diffusion resistance. This decrease in diffusion resistance greatly facilitated underwater photosynthesis, as indicated by higher underwater photosynthesis rates in submergence-acclimated leaves at all CO2 concentrations investigated. The increased availability of internal CO2 in these ‘aquatic’ leaves reduced photorespiration, and furthermore reduced excitation pressure of the electron transport system and, thus, the risk of photodamage. Acclimation to submergence also altered photosynthesis biochemistry as reduced Rubisco contents were observed in aquatic leaves, indicating a lower carboxylation capacity. Electron transport capacity was also reduced in these leaves but not as strongly as the reduction in Rubisco, indicating a substantial increase of the ratio between electron transport and carboxylation capacity upon submergence. This novel finding suggests that this ratio may be less conservative than previously thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Terrestrial plants experience multiple stresses when they are submerged, caused both by oxygen deficiency due to reduced gas diffusion in water, and by shade due to high turbidity of the floodwater. It has been suggested that responses to submergence arede factoresponses to low light intensity.• We investigated the extent to which submergence and shade induce similar acclimation responses by comparing two terrestrialRumexspecies that differ in their responses to flooding.• Our study confirms that there are strong similarities between acclimation responses to shade and submergence. Petiole length, specific leaf area (SLA), chlorophyll parameters and underwater light-compensation points changed at least qualitatively in the same direction. Maximum underwater photosynthesis rate, however, did discriminate between the functionality of the responses, as the acclimation to submergence appeared to be more effective than acclimation to shade at saturating light.• We conclude that acclimation to submergence involves more than an increase in SLA to achieve the significant reduction of diffusion resistance for gas exchange between leaves and the water column.New Phytologist(2005)doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01404.x© New Phytologist(2005) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Plants sense neighbours even before these cause a decrease in photosynthetic light availability. Light reflected by proximate neighbours signals a plant to adjust growth and development, in order to avoid suppression by neighbour plants. These phenotypic changes are known as the shade-avoidance syndrome and include enhanced shoot elongation and more upright-positioned leaves. In the present study it was shown that these shade-avoidance traits in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum ) are also induced by low concentrations of ethylene. Furthermore, it was shown that transgenic plants, insensitive to ethylene, have a delayed appearance of shade-avoidance traits. The increase in both leaf angles and stem elongation in response to neighbours are delayed in ethylene-insensitive plants. These data show that ethylene is an important component in the regulation of neighbour-induced, shade-avoidance responses. Consequently, ethylene-insensitive plants lose competition with wild-type neighbours, demonstrating that sensing of ethylene is required for a plant to successfully compete for light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Are there intrinsic differences in the rates of photosynthesis, shoot- and root-respiration between inherently fast- and slow-growing monocotyledons at high and low nitrogen supply? To analyze this question we grew 5 monocotyledons, widely differing in their inherent relative growth rate at high and low nitrogen supply in a growth room. Nitrate was exponentially added to the plants, enabling us to compare inherent differences in plant characteristics, without any effect of species differences in the ability to take up nutrients. At high nitrogen supply, the fast-growing species from productive habitats had a higher photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency and rate of root respiration than the slow-growing ones from unproductive habitats. Only minor differences were observed in their rates of photosynthesis and shoot respiration per unit leaf area. At low nitrogen supply, the rates of photosynthesis and shoot- and root respiration decreased for all species, even though there were no longer any differences in these processes between inherently fast- and slow-growing species. The photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency increased for all species, and no differences were found among species. Differences in the photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency among species and nitrogen treatments are discussed in terms of the utilization of the photosynthetic apparatus, whereas differences in respiration rate are discussed in terms of the energy demand for growth, maintenance and ion uptake and their related specific respiratory energy costs. It is concluded that the relatively high abundance of slow-growing species compared to fast-growing ones in unproductive habitats is unlikely to be explained by differences in rates of photosynthesis and respiration or in photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response of faba bean seedlings to the combined effects of increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations ([CO2]) and solar UV-B irradiance was studied using open-top chambers transparent to UV-B radiation. The purpose of the study was to determine whether effects of increased [CO2] on growth and physiology are modified by the present solar UV-B fluence rate in the Netherlands. Seedlings were exposed to 350 or 700 μmol mol{sup}-1{end} CO2. At both [CO2], solar UV-B irradiance was either present or reduced using polyester foil opaque to UV-B radiation. To obtaininformation on the time dependence of increased [CO2] and UV-B radiation effects, three harvests were performed during the experiment. CO2 enrichment resulted in increased biomass production at all harvests. At the final harvest, UV-B radiation did not affect biomass production but a significant decrease was observed after 14 d of treatment. A reduction of the UV-B fluence increased shoot length at both [CO2] throughout the experiment. UV-B radiation slightly altered biomass allocation. Plants grown at reduced levels of UV-B radiation invested less biomass in flowers and more in stem material compared to plants grown at ambient UV-B levels. CO2 enrichment resulted in a stimulation of net photosynthesis after 26 and 38 d of treatment. UV-B reduction did not alter this response. After 26 d of treatment, photosynthetic acclimation to CO2 enrichment was observed, which was probably the result of accumulation of carbohydrates in the leaves. After 38 d, photosynthetic acclimation was no longer present. The UV absorbance of methanolic leaf extracts was increased by CO2 enrichment only. Both CO2 enrichment and solar UV-B reduced the transmittance of radiationthrough intact attached leaves. Interaction between [CO2] and UV-B radiation was limited to UV-A transmittance of... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of fluctuating irradiance regimes on excessive photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation sensitivity were assessed for Emiliania huxleyi (Lohman) and Thalassiosira weissflogii (Grunow) Fryxell and Hasle. Cultures acclimated to low irradiance were subjected to two irradiance regimes of equal daily dose: dynamic irradiance simulating vertical mixing within the water column and constant irradiance. For each regime two irradiance levels were studied. Growth was monitored for 3 d, after which pigment composition was determined. Next, excessive PAR and UV sensitivity was measured by studying viability loss during 4-h exposure to simulated surface irradiance (SSI). Furthermore, the effects of inhibition of D1 reaction center protein turnover were investigated by incubating samples with lincomycin prior to exposure. Dynamic irradiance reduced growth rates of both species as compared to constant irradiance. Pools of light-harvesting pigments increased in dynamic irradiance, whereas the protective pigment pools decreased compared to constant irradiance. Excessive irradiance sensitivity was enhanced in cells grown in fluctuating irradiance. Furthermore, viability loss was most pronounced in UV treatments combined with lincomycin. E. huxleyi was more sensitive to excessive irradiance than T. weissflogii, which coincided with a lower ratio between protective and light-harvesting pigments in the former species. Irradiance modulation by deep vertical mixing influences growth, pigment composition, and excessive PAR and UV sensitivity within days [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]