Abstract
We here present an outline of the JIP-test, a screening test based on the quantitative analysis of the chlorophyll a fluorescence rise O-J-I-P transient exhibited by all photosynthetic organisms. The JIP-test leads to the calculation of several phenomenological and biophysical parameters quantifying the photosystem II (PSII) behaviour. The parameters express (a) the energy fluxes for absorption, trapping and electron transport, (b) the flux ratios or yields, (c) the concentration of reaction centres and (d) a performance index. The JIP-test was proved to be a very useful tool for the in vivo investigation of the adaptive behaviour of the photosynthetic apparatus to a wide variety and combination of stressors, e.g. high or low temperature, high light intensity, atmospheric CO2 or ozone elevation etc. The successful “fingerprinting” of stressors on the behaviour/performance of the photosynthetic apparatus provides the basis for using this behaviour/performance as a bio-indicator of climate changes. As an example, a case study on light and heat stress adaptation of the symbionts of coral reef foraminifers in hospite is presented. This study tackles the question about the origin of the big environmental problem of massive bleaching of the reef ecosystem, which involves, besides corals, several other species among which large foraminifers, and corresponds to the loss of their photosynthetic symbionts and/or the symbionts’ pigments. We used the JIP-test to investigate in three genera of large foraminifers the response of PSII of their symbionts in hospite upon light and heat stress (up to 32 °C). While low-light was found to offer a strong thermoprotection, heat stress in the dark was found to result in a wide decrease of the capacity for photosynthetic activity. Strong illumination induced even wider decreases of the photosynthetic activity, however highly reversible. The extent of the reversibility from the high-light stress was much bigger under low-light than in the dark. Since the symbionts’ photosynthetic products are the major energy source for the symbiotic association, it is proposed that the reduction in their productivity and, concomitantly, of their delivery to the host, affects negatively the co-habitation and, hence, triggers bleaching. The results suggest that warm nights should be considered as a major factor provoking coral reef bleaching.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Clark A. J., Landolt W., Bucher J. & Strasser R.J., 1998, The response ofFagus sylvatica to elevated C02 and ozone probed by the JlP-test based on the chlorophyll fluorescence rise OJIP. In: L J. De Kok & I. Stulen (eds.) Responses of plant metabolism to air pollution and global change. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands, 283–286.
Clark A.J., Landolt W., Bucher J. & Strasser R.J., 2000, Beech (Fagus sylvatica) response to ozone exposure assessed with a chlorophyll a fluorescence performance index. Environ. Pollut. 109: 501–507.
Coles S.L & Jokiel P.L., 1978, Synergistic effects of temperature, salinity and light on the hermatypic coral Montipora verrucosa. Mar. Biol. 49: 187–195.
Govindjee, 1995, Sixty-three years since Kautsky: Chlorophyll a fluorescence. Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 22: 131–160.
Havaux M., 1993, Rapid photosynthetic adaptation to heat stress triggered in potato leaves by moderately elevated temperatures. Plant Cell Environ. 16: 461–467.
Havaux M. & Strasser R.J., 1990, Protection of photosystem II by light in heat-stressed pea leaves. Z. Naturforsch. 45C: 1133–1141.
Iglesias-Prieto R., 1995, The effects of elevated temperature on the photosynthetic responses of symbiotic dinoflagellates. In: P. Mathis (ed.) Photosynthesis: From Light to Biosphere. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, Vol V, 793–796.
Iglesias-Prieto R., Mata J.L., Robins W.A. & Trench R.K., 1992, Photosynthetic response to elevated temperature in the symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium microadriaticun in culture. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89: 10302–10305.
Krause G.H. & Weiss E., 1991, Chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthesis: the basics. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 42: 313–349.
Krüger G.H.J., Tsimilli-Michael M. & Strasser R.J., 1997, Light stress provokes plastic and elastic modifications in structure and function of photosystem II in camellia leaves. Physiol. Plant 101: 265–277.
Merino M., Enriquez S., Strasser R.J. & Iglesias-Prieto R., 1995, Spatial and diurnal variations in the photosynthetic activity of the tropical seagrass Thalassia testudinum. In: P. Mathis (ed.) Photosynthesis: From Light to Biosphere. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, Vol V, 889–892.
Ouzounidou G., Moustakas M. & Strasser, R. J., 1997, Sites of action of copper in the photosynthetic apparatus of maize leaves: Kinetic analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence, oxygen evolution, absorption changes and thermal dissipation as monitored by photoacoustic signals. Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 24: 81–90.
Srivastava A. & Strasser R. J., 1996, Stress and stress management of land plants during a regular day. J. Plant Physiol. 148: 445–455.
Srivastava A. & Strasser, R.J., 1997, Constructive and destructive actions of light on the photosynthetic apparatus. J. Sci. Ind. Res. 56: 133–148.
Srivastava A., Guisse B., Greppin H. & Strasser R. J., 1997, Regulation of antenna structure and electron transport in PSII of Pisum sativum under elevated temperature probed by the fast polyphasic chlorophyll a fluorescence transient OKJIP. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1320: 95–106.
Stirbet A., Srivastava A. & Stasser R.J., 1998, The energetic connectivity of PSII centres in higher plants probed in vivo by the fast fluorescence rise O-J-I-P and numerical simulations. In: G. Garab (ed.) Photosynthesis: Mechanisms and Effects. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, Vol V, 4317–4320.
Strasser B.J., 1997, Donor side capacity of photosystem II probed by chlorophyll a fluorescence transients. Photosynth. Res. 52: 147–155.
Strasser B.J. & Strasser R.J., 1995, Measuring fast fluorescence transients to address environmental questions: The JIP-test. In: P. Mathis (ed.) Photosynthesis: From Light to Biosphere. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, Vol V, 977–980.
Strasser R. J., 1987, Energy pipeline model of the photosynthetic apparatus. In: J. Biggins (ed.) Progress in Photosynthesis Research. Martinus Nijhoff, Dordrecht, Vol II, 717–720.
Strasser R.J. & Govindjee, 1992, The Fo and the O-J-I-P fluorescence rise in higher plants and algae. In: J.H. Argyroudi-Akoyunoglou (ed.) Regulation of Chloroplast Biogenesis, Plenum Press, New York, 423–426.
Strasser R.J., Srivastava A. & Govindjee, 1995, Polyphasic chlorophyll a fluorescence transient in plants and cyanobacteria. Photochem. Photobiol 61: 32–42.
Strasser R.J., Srivastava A. & Tsimilli-Michael M., 2000, The fluorescence transient as a tool to characterize and screen photosynthetic samples. In: M. Yunus, U. Pathre & P. Mohanty (eds.) Probing photosynthesis: mechanism, regulation and adaptation. Taylor and Francis, London, UK, Chapter 25, 443–480.
Tsimilli-Michael M. & Strasser R.J., 2001, Mycorrhization as a stress adaptation procedure. In: S. Gianinazzi, H. Schüepp & K. Haselwandter (eds.) Mycorrhizal Technology in Agriculture from Genes to Bioproducts. Birkhauser, Basel (in press).
Tsimilli-Michael M., Krüger G.H.J. & Strasser R.J., 1996, About the perpetual state changes in plants approaching harmony with their environment. Archs Sci. Genève 49: 173–203.
Tsimilli-Michael M., Pêcheux M. & Strasser R. J., 1998, Vitality and stress adaptation of the symbionts of coral reef and temperate foraminifers probed in hospite by the fluorescence kinetics O-J-I-P. Archs Sci. Genève 51(2): 1–36.
Tsimilli-Michael M., Pêcheux M., & Strasser R.J., 1999, Light and heat stress adaptation of the symbionts of temperate and coral reef foraminifers probed in hospite by the chlorophyll a fluorescence kinetics O-J-I-P. Z. Naturforsch. 54C: 671–680.
Tsimilli-Michael M., Eggenberg P., Biro B., Köves-Pechy K., Vörös I. & Strasser R.J., 2000, Synergistic and antagonistic effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Azospirillum and Rhizobium nitrogen-fixers on the photosynthetic activity of alfalfa, probed by the chlorophyll a polyphasic fluorescence transient O-J-I-P. Appl. Soil Ecol. 15: 169–182.
Van Rensburg, L., Krüger G.H.J., Eggenberg, P. & Strasser, R.J., 1996, Can screening criteria for drought resistance in Nicotiana tabacum L. be derived from the polyphasic rise of the chlorophyll a fluorescence transient (OJIP)? S. Afr. J. Bot. 62: 337–341.
Warner M.E., Fitt W.K. & Schmidt G.W., 1996, The effects of elevated temperature on the photosynthetic efficiency of zooxanthellae in hospite from four different species of reef coral: a novel approach. Plant Cell Environ. 19: 291–299.
Williams E.H. & Bunkley-Williams L., 1990, The world-wide coral reef bleaching cycle and related sources of coral mortality. Atoll Res. Bull. 335: 1–71.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Tsimilli-Michael, M., Strasser, R.J. (2001). Fingerprints of climate changes on the photosynthetic apparatus’ behaviour, monitored by the JIP-test. In: Walther, GR., Burga, C.A., Edwards, P.J. (eds) “Fingerprints” of Climate Change. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8692-4_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8692-4_14
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-4667-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-8692-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive