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Evaluation of cold stress of young industrial chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) by chlorophyll a fluorescence imaging. II. Dark relaxation kinetics

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Industrial chicory, Cichorium intybus L., has rather poor early vigour under the typical early spring morning conditions of low temperatures and high light intensity. Screening tools are being developed to assess the cold tolerance/sensitivity of young industrial chicory plants under these conditions. Refinement of such tools requires better understanding of the plants’ physiological responses. In this paper we discuss the effects of growth temperature (GT), measurement temperature (MT), and measuring light intensity (ML) on the relaxation of the Kautsky curve. We chose the chicory variety ‘Hera’, as it is known to possess a good average early vigour. Young plants of the variety ‘Hera’ were grown at three temperatures (GT): 16°C (reference), 8°C (intermediate), and 4°C (cold stress). The dark relaxation kinetics were analyzed at different light intensities (ML) in combination with different measurement temperatures (MT). The three components of the nonphotochemical quenching process (NPQE, NPQT, and NPQI) were determined. NPQE was not affected by GT but was significantly affected by MT and ML. NPQT and NPQI were affected by all factors and their interactions. An acclimation effect for plants grown at low GT was detected. Acclimation resulted in lower NPQT and NPQI values. The halftime of the inhibition depending on NPQ (NPQI) was not affected by any of the factors investigated. Based on the data generated, we conclude that NPQI is a valuable parameter for screening the cold sensitivity of young industrial chicory plants.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA :

analysis of variance

Ax:

antheraxanthin

Chl:

chlorophyll

EC:

electrical conductivity

Fo :

the minimum chlorophyll fluorescence in dark-adapted state

Fm :

the maximum chlorophyll fluorescence in dark-adapted state

Fm′:

maximum fluorescence after light induction

htE:

halftime of the energy-dependent quenching

htI:

halftime of the photoinhibition-dependent quenching

htT:

halftime of the state-transition-dependent quenching

GT:

growth temperature

kP :

rate constant for PSII photochemistry

LHC:

light-harvesting complex

ML:

measurement light intensity

MT:

measurement temperature

NPQ:

nonphotochemical quenching of the chlorophyll fluorescence signal

NPQE :

energy-dependent quenching

NPQf :

fast nonphotochemical quenching

NPQI :

photoinhibition-dependent quenching

NPQT :

state-transition-dependent quenching

PAM:

pulse amplitude modulated

PAR:

photosynthetically active radiation

PSI:

photosystem I

PSII:

photosystem II

qE :

energy-dependent quenching

qI :

photoinhibition-dependent quenching

qN :

nonphotochemical quenching coefficient of the Chl fluorescence signal

qT :

state-transition-dependent quenching

SE:

standard error

Vx:

violaxanthin

Zx:

zeaxanthin

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Laurent Gevaert, Luc Van Gijseghem and Christian Hendrickx for their help with the measurements and the cultivation and maintenance of the plants. The authors also like to thank Assistant Professor E. Rosenqvist and Professor N. D’Ambrosio for useful discussions concerning the Chl a fluorescence parameters. Miriam Levenson is acknowledged for her English language review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Sciences Unit, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Caritasstraat 21, 9090, Melle, Belgium

    P. Lootens, S. Devacht, J. Baert, J. Van Waes, E. Van Bockstaele & I. Roldán-Ruiz

  2. Faculty Bioscience Engineering, Department of Plant Production, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium

    S. Devacht & E. Van Bockstaele

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  1. P. Lootens
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  2. S. Devacht
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  3. J. Baert
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  4. J. Van Waes
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  5. E. Van Bockstaele
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  6. I. Roldán-Ruiz
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Correspondence to P. Lootens.

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Lootens, P., Devacht, S., Baert, J. et al. Evaluation of cold stress of young industrial chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) by chlorophyll a fluorescence imaging. II. Dark relaxation kinetics. Photosynthetica 49, 185–194 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-011-0025-z

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