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Glycine betaine improves thylakoid membrane function of tobacco leaves under low-temperature stress

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Photosynthetica

Abstract

Glycine betaine (GB) is an effective compatible solute that improves the tolerance in plants to various stresses. We investigated the effects of 2 mM GB applied to the roots of a tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cultivar on enhancing photosynthesis under low-temperature (LT) stress (5/5 °C, 12/12 h, 300 µmol m−2 s−1) and in the subsequent recovery (25/18 °C) from the stress. The net photosynthetic rate, intrinsic efficiency measured as the ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence, and actual efficiency of the photochemistry of photosystem 2 as well as the ATPase activity in the thylakoid membrane decreased, and a distinct K step in the fluorescence transient O-J-I-P appeared under cold stress. Exogenous GB alleviated the decrease in all these parameters. The LT-stress induced the accumulation of 33–66 kDa polypeptides and decreased the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids in the thylakoid membrane. In plants subjected to LT-stress, GB protected these polypeptides from damage and enhanced the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids. An increase in non-radiative energy dissipation (NPQ) may be involved in the improvement of the function of the thylakoid membrane by GB since exogenous GB protected violaxanthin de-epoxidase and enhanced NPQ.

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Abbreviations

A:

antheraxanthin

Chl:

chlorophyll

DGDG:

digalactosyl diacylglycerol

DTT:

1,4-dithiothreitol

Fv/Fm :

intrinsic efficiency of PS2 photochemistry

GB:

glycinebetaine

IUFA:

index of unsaturated fatty acids

LHC:

light-harvesting complex

LT:

low temperature

MGDG:

monogalactosyl diacylglycerol

NPQ:

non-radiative energy dissipation

OEC:

oxygen evolving complex

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

PG:

phosphatidylglycerol

PS:

photosystem

SQDG:

sulfoquinovosyldiglyceride

V:

violaxanthin

VDE:

violaxanthin de-epoxidase

Z:

zeaxanthin

ΦPS2 :

actual efficiency of PS2 photochemistry

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong, 271018, China

    C. Wang, Z. Hui & W. Wang

  2. Chemistry Department, Jining University, Jining, Shandong, 273155, China

    X. L. Ma

Authors
  1. C. Wang
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  2. X. L. Ma
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  3. Z. Hui
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  4. W. Wang
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Correspondence to W. Wang.

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Wang, C., Ma, X.L., Hui, Z. et al. Glycine betaine improves thylakoid membrane function of tobacco leaves under low-temperature stress. Photosynthetica 46, 400–409 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-008-0072-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-008-0072-2

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