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Effect of melatonin priming on photosynthetic capacity of tomato leaves under low-temperature stress

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Melatonin has different functions in plant growth and development, especially in the protection of plants suffering from various forms of abiotic stress. We explored the effect of melatonin priming on photosynthetic activity of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) leaves. Our results showed that 100 µM is the optimal concentration used for alleviation of the damage to photosynthetic apparatus. Melatonin priming both in the form of leaf spray and direct root application was found to reduce the damage to photosynthetic apparatus, and increase the electron transfer rate and quantum yield of PSI and PSII photochemistry, to protect the thylakoid membrane from damage caused by low-temperature stress. Our study provides fundamental information for further research on the molecular mechanism of melatonin function in regulating photosynthesis.

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Abbreviations

C a :

ambient CO2 concentration

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

Chl:

chlorophyll

CK:

control

CK0:

plants were grown at normal temperature (day and night temperature of 25/15°C) for 3 d after pretreatment by spraying water on leaves and applying 50 mL of water on roots

CK1:

plants were grown at low temperature (day and night temperature of 15/6°C) for 3 d after pretreatment by spraying water on leaves and applying 50 mL of water on roots

E :

transpiration rate

ETRI :

electron transfer rate of PSI

ETRII :

electron transfer rate of PSII

Fv/Fm :

the maximum photochemical quantum yield of PSII

Fv′/Fm′:

the efficiency of excitation energy capture by open PSII reaction center

g s :

stomatal conductance

L100:

plants were grown at low temperature (day and night temperature of 15/6°C) for 3 d after pretreatment by leaf spraying 100 µM melatonin on leaves and applying 50 mL of water on roots

Ls :

stomatal limitation

MDA:

malondialdehyde

NPQ:

nonphotochemical quenching

Pm :

PSI content

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

PSI-CEF:

cyclic electron flow around PSI

qP :

photochemical quenching coefficient

R100:

plants were grown at low temperature (day and night temperature of 15/6°C) for 3 d after pretreatment by spraying water on leaves and applying 100 mL of melatonin on roots

RLC:

rapid light curve

RNS:

reactive nitrogen species

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

WUE:

water-use efficiency (= PN/E)

YI :

quantum yield of PSI photochemistry

YII :

actual quantum yield of PSII photochemistry for light-adapted state

YNA :

quantum yield of nonphotochemical energy dissipation due to acceptor side limitation

YND :

quantum yield of nonphotochemical energy dissipation due to donor side limitation

YNPQ :

quantum yield of regulatory energy dissipation

YNO :

quantum yield of nonregulatory energy dissipation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture of Education Ministry and Liaoning Province, College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agriculture University, Shenyang, 110866, China

    X. L. Yang, H. Xu, D. Li, X. Gao, T. L. Li & R. Wang

Authors
  1. X. L. Yang
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  2. H. Xu
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  3. D. Li
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  4. X. Gao
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  5. T. L. Li
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  6. R. Wang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Wang.

Additional information

Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the National Key Research Program of China (2016YFD0201004); National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31301813) and China Agriculture Research System (Grant No. CARS-25).

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Yang, X.L., Xu, H., Li, D. et al. Effect of melatonin priming on photosynthetic capacity of tomato leaves under low-temperature stress. Photosynthetica 56, 884–892 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-017-0748-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-017-0748-6

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