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Blue radiation stimulates photosynthetic induction in Fagus sylvatica L.

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the spectral composition of incident radiation, as defined by the relative proportions of blue (B; λmax = 455 nm) and red (R; λmax = 625 nm) photons, can affect photosynthetic induction, since B photons stimulate stomatal opening and are more effectively absorbed by leaves than R photons. Different stages of photosynthetic induction, primarily determined by the photo-modulation of Rubisco activity and stomata opening, were investigated in dark-adapted leaves of Fagus sylvatica transferred to saturating irradiance [800µmol(photon) m−2 s−1] at B/R ratios of 1/3, 1/1, or 3/1.

In agreement with our hypothesis, photosynthesis was induced faster by irradiance with a high B/R ratio (3/1); as demontrated by a higher IS60 (induction state 60 s after leaf illumination) and lower T 90 (the time period required to reach 90 % of maximum steady-state photosynthesis). However, there were no differences in induction between leaves receiving equal (1/1) and low (1/3) B/R ratios. Electron transport was highly sensitive to radiation quality, exhibiting faster induction kinetics with increasing B/R ratio. Such stimulation of carbon-assimilatory processes corresponds with faster activation of Rubisco and lower non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) as the proportion of B photons is increased. In contrast, the kinetics of stomatal opening was independent of the spectral composition of incoming radiation. Since slightly higher absorption efficiency of high B/R radiation does not fully explain the changes in induction kinetics, the other possible mechanisms contributing to the stimulation of electron transport and Rubisco activity are discussed.

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Abbreviations

Ab (Rf, Tr):

absorptance (reflectance, transmittance)

B (R, FR):

blue (red, far-red) radiation

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

Chl (Car):

chlorophyll (carotenoid)

Chl-F:

chlorophyll fluorescence

ETR:

electron transport rate

g s :

stomatal conductance to water vapor

H (E, L):

high (equal, low) proportion of blue to red radiation

IS60 :

induction state 60 s after leaf illumination

LSmax :

maximum value of transient stomatal limitation

NPQ:

non-photochemical quenching

P N (P N*):

CO2 assimilation rate (*without stomatal limitation)

PFD:

photon flux density

R D :

dark respiration rate

T 90 :

time required to reach 90 % of maximum steady-state

T S0 (T B0):

time required to remove transient biochemical (stomatal) limitations

V Cmax :

maximum carboxylation rate

τ:

time constant for Rubisco activation

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Plants Ecological Physiology, Division of Ecosystem Processes, Institute of Systems Biology and Ecology, Poříčí 3b, CZ-60300, Brno, Czech Republic

    M. Košvancová-Zitová, O. Urban & M. V. Marek

  2. Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Zemědělská 3, CZ-61300, Brno, Czech Republic

    M. Košvancová-Zitová & M. V. Marek

  3. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Ostrava University, 30.dubna 22, CZ-70103, Ostrava 1, Czech Republic

    M. Navrátil & V. Špunda

  4. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrarias y Tecnologías Agroalimentarias, Centro de Investigación Forestal, Carretera a Coruña Km 7.5, E-28040, Madrid, Spain

    T. M. Robson

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  1. M. Košvancová-Zitová
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  2. O. Urban
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  3. M. Navrátil
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  4. V. Špunda
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  6. M. V. Marek
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Correspondence to O. Urban.

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Acknowledgements: This work is part of the research supported by grants IAA600870701 (GA AV), OC08022 (MSMT), 522/07/0759 (GA CR) and by the Research Intention of ISBE AS CR AV0Z60870520. M. Navrátil and V. Špunda are supported by the Ostrava University (Foundation for the Support of R&D Centres), and T.M. Robson is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science project CLIMHAYA-BOSALIM (CGL2007-66066-C04-03/BOS) and a Juan de la Cierva Fellowship.

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Košvancová-Zitová, M., Urban, O., Navrátil, M. et al. Blue radiation stimulates photosynthetic induction in Fagus sylvatica L.. Photosynthetica 47, 388–398 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-009-0060-1

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