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Chlorophyll fluorescence as an indicator of age-dependent changes in photosynthetic apparatus of wheat leaves

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Abstract

Wheat (Triticum sativus L.) seedlings of various ages (2- to 16-day-old plants) were used to study age-dependent changes in the chlorophyll fluorescence induction (CFI) at various light intensities during flu- orescence measurements. Plants were raised in a growth chamber using hydroponics with expanded clay, controlled environmental conditions, and 690 µmol/(m2 s) photon flux density (PFD) of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Parameters of CFI were determined under actinic PFD of 380, 580, 820, and 1340 µmol/(m2 s) PAR. The fifth leaf from the stem base, exposed to uniform lighting, was sampled for measurements. This leaf emerged at the plant age of 16 days. Based on fluorescence data, we calculated the maximal photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II (F v/F m), the effective photochemical quantum yield of PSII (Yield), parameters of photochemical (qP) and non-photochemical (qN and NPQ) quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence, the F p/F t ratio, and the “vitality index” (fluorescence decrease ratio, R fd). At moderate actinic PFD, applied commonly in PAM fluorometers (about 380 µmol/(m2 s)), age-dependent changes in NPQ, F p/F t, and R fd were observed. Analysis of CFI parameters in wheat leaves of different ages at PFD increasing from 380 to 820 µmol/(m2 s) revealed that R fd, NPQ, and qN are the most sensitive markers of the leaf age among all parameters tested. These suitable indicators can be used for rapid assessment of the leaf age.

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Abbreviations

CFI:

chlorophyll fluorescence induction

F 0 and F m :

minimal and maximal levels of chlorophyll fluorescence after dark adaptation

F′0, F′m, and F t :

minimal, maximal, and stationary levels of chlorophyll fluorescence in the light-adapted state

F p :

fluorescence intensity at the peak of CFI curve recorded under actinic illumination after preliminary dark adaptation

F v/F m :

the ratio of variable (F v = F m - F 0) to maximal (F m) fluorescence representing the maximal photochemical quantum yield of PSII

NPQ:

non-photochemical quenching in PSII

PAM:

pulse-amplitude modulated (fluorometry)

PAR:

photosynthetically active radiation

PFD:

photon flux density

PSI and PSII:

photosystem I and II

PSA:

photosynthetic apparatus

qN:

coefficient of non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence

qP:

coefficient of photochemical quenching of PSII fluorescence

R fd :

vitality index

Yield = (F′m - F t)/F′m :

effective photochemical quantum yield, i.e., the fraction of light energy used by PSII complexes for electron transport

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biophysics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Akademgorodok, Krasnoyarsk, 660036, Russia

    T. V. Nesterenko, V. N. Shikhov & A. A. Tikhomirov

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  1. T. V. Nesterenko
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  2. V. N. Shikhov
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  3. A. A. Tikhomirov
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Correspondence to T. V. Nesterenko.

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Nesterenko, T.V., Shikhov, V.N. & Tikhomirov, A.A. Chlorophyll fluorescence as an indicator of age-dependent changes in photosynthetic apparatus of wheat leaves. Russ J Plant Physiol 62, 307–313 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1021443715020144

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1021443715020144

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