Abstract
1. Photosynthesis of leaf slices, mesophyll protoplasts, and intact chloroplasts of spinach was inhibited in hypertonic sorbitol solutions. Sorbitol could be replaced by other nonpenetrating osmotica such as sucrose or glycinebetaine. As a penetrating solute, ethyleneglycol was also inhibitory, but osmolarities required for inhibition of photosynthesis were considerably higher than in the case of non-penetrating osmotica.-2. With leaf slices and protoplasts, 50% inhibition by sorbitol was usually observed at osmotic potentials between 25 and 40 bar. With isolated intact chloroplasts, the osmotic potentials producing 50% inhibition varied considerably. Depending on the growth conditions of the plant material, 50% inhibition occurred between 14 and 40 bar. The integrity of the chloroplast envelope as measured by the accessibility of the thylakoid system for ferricyanide was not affected by osmotic stress.-3. Quantum requirements for CO2 assimilation and reduction of 3-phosphoglycerate or nitrite by intact chloroplasts increased under osmotic stress. The increase was larger for CO2 reduction than for reduction of 3-phosphoglycerate or nitrite.-4. In intact chloroplasts, electron transport to methylviologen was not much affected by osmotic stress. Basal electron transport was not stimulated, suggesting absence of uncoupling.-5. The increase in ATP/ADP ratios on illumination of intact chloroplasts was slower at an osmotic potential of 36 bar than at 11 bar.-6. The results indicate that inhibition of photosynthesis is not caused by the sensitivity of a single photosynthetic reaction to increased osmotic potentials. Rather, several reactions are sensitive to water stress. Osmotic stress acts on the photosynthetic apparatus mainly at the level of dark reactions and ATP synthesis, and much less on primary photoreactions or electron transport, between water and the primary oxidant of photosystem I.-7. The different sensitivity of chloroplasts to penetrating and non-penetrating solutes and the observed variability of chloroplast sensitivity to stress suggests that the reduction in water potential is not directly responsible for damage to the photosynthetic apparatus during osmotic stress. Rather, the composition of the chloroplasts appears to be a decisive factor which determines sensitivity or resistance to osmotic stress.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arnon, D.I. (1949) Copper enzymes in isolated chloroplasts. Polyphenol oxidase in Beta vulgaris. Plant Physiol. 24, 1–15
Barrs, H.D. (1968) Effect of cyclic variations in gas exchange under constant environmental conditions on the ratio of transpiration to net photosynthesis. Plant Physiol. 21, 918–929
Boyer, J.S., Bowen, B.L. (1970) Inhibition of oxygen evolution in chloroplasts isolated from leaves with low water potentials. Plant Physiol. 45, 612–615
Boyer, J.S. (1971) Non-stomatal inhibition of photosynthesis in Sunflower at low leaf water potentials and high light intensities. Plant Physiol. 48, 532–536
Boyer, J.S., Potter, J.R. (1973) Chloroplast response to low leaf water potential I. Role of turgor. Plant Physiol. 51, 989–992
Cockbum, W., Walker, D.A., Baldry, C.W. (1968) The isolation of spinach chloroplasts, in pyrophosphate media. Plant Physiol. 43, 1415–1418
Coughlan S.J., Wyn Jones, R.G. (1980) Some responses of Spinacia oleracea to salt stress. J. Exp. Bot. 31, 883–893
Edwards, G.E., Robinson, S.P., Tyler, N.J.C., Walker, D.A. (1978) Photosynthesis by isolated protoplasts, protoplast extract, and chloroplasts of wheat. Plant Physiol. 62, 313–319
Heber, U., Santarius, K.A. (1970). Direct and indirect transfer of ATP and ADP across the chloroplast, envelope. Z. Naturforsch. 25b, 718–728
Heber, U. (1973) Stoichiometry of reduction and phosphorylation during illumination of intact chloroplasts. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 305, 140–152
Heber, U., Krause, G.H. (1980) What is the physiological role of photorespiration?. Trends Biochem. Sciences 5, 32–34
Hsiao, T.C. (1973) Plant responses to water stress. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 24, 519–570
Hopmans, P.A.M. (1971) Rhythms in stomatal opening of bean leaves. Meded. Landbouwhogeschool Wageningen 71, No.3
Jones, H.G. (1973) Photosynthesis of thin leaf slices in solution. II. Osmotic stress and its effect of photosynthesis. Austr. J. Biol. Sci. 26, 25–33
Jones, H.G., Osmond, C.B. (1973) Photosynthesis of thin, leaf slices in solution. I. Properties of leaf slices and comparison with whole leaves. Aust. J. Biol. Sci. 26, 15–24
Kaiser, W.M., Urbach, W. (1977) The effect of dihydroxyacetone phosphate and 3-phosphoglycerate on O2-evolution and on the levels of ATP, ADP and Pi in isolated intact chloroplasts. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 459, 337–346
Kaiser, W.M., Stepper, W., Urbach, W. (1981) Photosynthesis of isolated chloroplasts and protoplasts under osmotic stress. Reversible swelling of chloroplasts by hypotonic treatment, and its effect on photosynthesis. Planta 151, 375–380
Keck, R.W., Boyer, J.S. (1973) Chloroplast response to low leaf water potentials II. Role of osmotic potential. Plant Physiol. 51, 993–997
Keck, R.W., Boyer, J.S. (1974) Chloroplast response to low leaf water potentials III. Differing inhibition of electron transport and photophosphorylation. Plant Physiol. 53, 474–479
Krause, G.H., Lorimer, G.H., Heber, U., Kirk, M.R. (1978) Photorespiratory energy dissipation, in leaves and chloroplasts. In: Proceeding of the Fourth International Congress on Photosynthesis 1977, pp. 299–310, Hall, D.O., Coombs, J., Goodwin, T.W., eds. Biochemical Society, London
Lilley, R., Chon, C.J., Mosbach, A., Heldt, H.W. (1977) The distribution of metabolites between spinach chloroplasts and medium during photosynthesis in vitro. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 460, 259–272
Osmond, C.B., Winter, K., Powles, S.B. (1980) Adaptive significance of carbon dioxide cycling during photosynthesis in waterstressed plants, In: Adaptation of blants to water and high temperature stress. pp. 139–154, Turner, N.C., Kramer, P.J., eds. John Wiley and Sons, New York Chichester Brisbane Toronto
Plaut, Z. (1971) Inhibition of photosynthetic carbon dioxide fixation in isolated spinach chloroplasts exposed to reduced osmotic potentials. Plant Physiol 48, 591–595
Plaut, Z., Bravdo, B. (1973) Response of carbon dioxide fixation to water stress. Paralell measurements on isolated chloroplasts and intact spinach leaves. Plant Physiol. 52, 28–32
Potter, J.R., Boyer, J.S. (1973) Chloroplast response to low leaf water potentials. II. Role of osmotic potential. Plant Physiol. 51, 993–997
Santarius, K.A. (1967) Das Verhalten von CO2-Assimilation, NADP-und PGS-Reduktion und ATP-Synthese intakter Blattzellen in Abhängigkeit vom Wassergehalt Planta 73, 228–242
Santarius, K.A., Ernst, R. (1967) Das Verhalten von Hill-Reaktion und Photophosphorylierung isolierter Chloroplasten in Abhängigkeit vom Wassergehalt. I. Wasserentzug mittels konzentrierter Lösungen. Planta 73, 91–108
Santarius, K.A., Heber, U. (1967) Das Verhalten von Hill-Reaktion und Photophosphorylierung in isolierter Chloroplasten in Anhängigkeit vom Wassergehalt. II. Wasserentzug über CaCl2. Planta 73, 109–137
Strehler, B.L. (1970) Adenosin-5-triphosphat und Creatinphosphat. Bestimmung mit Luciferase. In: Methoden der Enzymatischen Analyse, vol. II, pp. 2036–2050, Bergmeyer, H.U., ed. Chemie-Verlag, Weinheim
Wong, S.C., Cowan, J.R., Farquar, G.D. (1979) Stomatal conductance correlates with photosynthetic capacity. Nature (London) 282, 424–426
Younis, H.M., Boyer, J.S., Govindjee (1979) Conformation and activity of chloroplast coupling factor exposed to low chemical potential of water in cells. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 548, 328–340
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kaiser, W.M., Kaiser, G., Prachuab, P.K. et al. Photosynthesis under osmotic stress. Planta 153, 416–422 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00394979
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00394979