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Chlorophyll a fluorescence of typical desert plant Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. at two light levels

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. is exposed to a high-irradiance environment as the main vegetation found in the forelands of the Taklamakan Desert. We investigated chlorophyll a fluorescence emission of A. sparsifolia seedlings grown under ambient (HL) and shade (LL) conditions. Our results indicated that the fluorescence intensity in the leaves was significantly higher for LL-grown plants than that under HL. High values of the maximum quantum yield of PSII for primary photochemistry (φPo) and the quantum yield that an electron moves further than QA - (φEo) in the plants under LL conditions suggested that the electron flow from QA - (primary quinone electron acceptors of PSII) to QB (secondary quinone acceptor of PSII) or QB - was enhanced at LL compared to natural HL conditions. The efficiency/probability with which an electron from the intersystem electron carriers was transferred to reduce end electron acceptors at the PSI acceptor side and the quantum yield for the reduction of end electron acceptors at the PSI acceptor side were opposite to φPo, and φEo. Thus, we concluded that the electron transport on the donor side of PSII was blocked under LL conditions, while acceptor side was inhibited at the HL conditions. The PSII activity of electron transport in the plants grown in shade was enhanced, while the energy transport from PSII to PSI was blocked compared to the plants grown at HL conditions. Furthermore, PSII activity under HL was seriously affected in midday, while the plants grown in shade enhanced their energy transport.

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Abbreviations

ABS/RC:

average absorbed photon flux per PSII reaction center

DIo/RC:

dissipated energy flux per PSII reaction center

ETo/RC:

electron transport flux from QA to QB

Fm :

maximal fluorescence yield of the dark-adapted state

Fo :

minimal fluorescence yield of the dark-adapted state

Fv :

variable fluorescence

Fv/Fo :

potential activity of PSII

HL:

ambient, high-light irradiance

LL:

shade, low-light irradiance, 50% of ambient light

PIabs :

performance index for energy conservation from photons absorbed by PSII antenna to the reduction of QB

RC:

reaction center

TRo/RC:

maximum trapped excitation flux per PSII reaction center

Wk:

the ratio of variable fluorescence at the K-step to the fluorescence difference Fj-Fo

φEo :

quantum yield of the electron transport flux from QA to QB

φPo :

maximum quantum yield of primary PSII photochemistry

φRo :

the quantum yield for the reduction of end electron acceptors at the PSI acceptor side

ψEoEo:

the efficiency/probability that an electron moves further than QA-

δRo :

efficiency with which an electron from QB is transferred to PSI acceptors

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China

    L. Li, X. Y. Li, F. J. Zeng & L. S. Lin

  2. Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystem in Xinjiang, Cele, Xinjiang, 848300, China

    L. Li, X. Y. Li, F. J. Zeng & L. S. Lin

Authors
  1. L. Li
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  2. X. Y. Li
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  3. F. J. Zeng
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  4. L. S. Lin
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Correspondence to X. Y. Li.

Additional information

Acknowledgments: The work was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41571057; 41371516) and the Joint Funds of National Natural Science Foundation of China (U1203201).

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Li, L., Li, X.Y., Zeng, F.J. et al. Chlorophyll a fluorescence of typical desert plant Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. at two light levels. Photosynthetica 54, 351–358 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0195-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0195-9

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