Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Light absorption by isolated chloroplasts and leaves: effects of scattering and ‘packing’

  • Regular Paper
  • Published:
Photosynthesis Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Light absorption was quantified in the following systems: isolated chloroplasts and leaves of spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.), a mutant of geranium (Pelargonium zonale L.) widely differing in pigment content, and coleus (Coleus blumei Benth.) at different stages of leaf ontogenesis. For these species and pea (Pisum sativum L.), scattering-compensated absorption spectra of chloroplast suspensions are presented. Comparison of leaf and chloroplast spectra showed considerable changes in the extent of the ‘package’ effect and the lengthening of the effective optical path in a leaf. The difference between leaf and isolated chloroplast absorption could be quantitatively described by adapting Duysens’s treatment of flattening. It was found that the accumulation of chlorophyll in leaves is accompanied by a monotonous enhancement of the package effect. The results are discussed with special reference to the role of light scattering in leaf optics, light utilization in photosynthesis and wavelength-dependent light gradients in a leaf.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

Chl:

Chlorophyll

Car:

Carotenoids

NIR:

Near Infra Red

References

  • Butler WL (1964) Absorption spectroscopy in vivo: theory and application. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 15:451–470

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cerovic ZG, Ounis A, Cartelat A, Latouche G, Goulas Y, Meyer S, Moya I (2002) The use of chlorophyll fluorescence excitation spectra for the non-destructive in situ assessment of UV-absorbing compounds in leaves. Plant Cell Environ 25:1663–1676

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cinque G, Croce R, Bassi R (2000) Absorption spectra of chlorophyll a and b in Lhcb protein environment. Photosynth Res 64:233–242

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cui M, Vogelmann TC, Smith WK (1991) Chlorophyll and light gradients in sun and shade leaves of Spinacia oleracea. Plant Cell Environ 14:493–500

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das M, Rabinovich E, Szalay L, Papageorgiou G (1967) The “sieve effect” in chlorella suspension. J Phys Chem 71:3543–3549

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duysens LNM (1956) The flattening of the absorption spectrum of suspensions, as compared to that of solutions. Biochim Biophys Acta 19:1–12

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Feret J-B, François C, Asner GP, Gitelson AA, Martin RE, Bidel LPR, Ustin SL, le Maire G, Jacquemoud S (2008) PROSPECT-4 and 5: advances in the leaf optical properties model separating photosynthetic pigments. Rem Sens Environ 112:3030–3043

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gitelson AA, Merzlyak MN (1996) Signature analysis of leaf reflectance spectra: algorithm development for remote sensing of chlorophyll. J Plant Physiol 148:494–500

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Govaerts YM, Jacquemoud S, Verstraete MM, Ustin SL (1996) Three-dimensional radiation transfer modeling in a dicotyledon leaf. Appl Opt 35:6585–6598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hageman R (1981) Regulation and transcription in the chloroplasts. In: Akoyunoglou G (ed) Photosynthesis V. Chloroplast development. Balaban International Science Service, Philadelphia, pp 755–776

    Google Scholar 

  • Ivanova LA, P’yankov VI (2002) Structural adaptation of the leaf mesophyll to shading. Russ J Plant Physiol 49:419–431

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kondo A, Kaikawa J, Funaguma T, Ueno O (2004) Clumping and dispersal of chloroplasts in succulent plants. Planta 219:500–506

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kortüm G (1969) Reflectance spectroscopy. Principles, methods, applications. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Legood RC, Walker DA (1985) Chloroplasts and protoplasts. In: Coombs J, Hall DO, Long SP, Scurlock JMO (eds) Techniques in bioproductivity and photosynthesis. Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp 118–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Lichtenthaler HK (1987) Chlorophyll and carotenoids: pigments of photosynthetic biomembranes. Methods Enzym 148:331–382

    Google Scholar 

  • Lichtenthaler HK, Buschmann C, Döll M, Fietz H-J, Bach T, Kozel U, Meier D, Rahmsdorf U (1981) Photosynthetic activity, chloroplast ultrastructure, and leaf characteristics of high-light and low-light plants and of sun and shade leaves. Photosynth Res 2:115–141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McClendon JH, Fukshansky L (1990a) On the interpretation of absorption spectra of leaves—I. Introduction and the correction of leaf spectra for surface reflection. Photochem Photobiol 51:203–210

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McClendon JH, Fukshansky L (1990b) On the interpretation of absorption spectra of leaves—II. The non-absorbed ray of the sieve effect and the mean optical pathlength in the remainder of the leaf. Photochem Photobiol 51:211–216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCree KJ (1981) Photosynthetically active radiation. In: Lange OL, Nobel PS, Osmund CB, Ziegler H (eds) Physiological plant ecology. I. Encyclopedia of plant physiology, new series 12a. Springer, Berlin, pp 41–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Merzlyak MN, Naqvi KR (2000) On recording the true absorption and scattering spectrum of a turbid sample: application to cell suspensions of the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis. J Photochem Photobiol B 58:123–129

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Merzlyak MN, Chivkunova OB, Melø TB, Naqvi KR (2002) Does a leaf absorb radiation in the Near Infra Red (780–900 nm)? A new approach to quantifying optical reflection, absorption and transmission of leaves. Photosynth Res 72:263–270

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Merzlyak M, Solovchenko A, Pogosyan S (2005) Optical properties of rhodoxanthin accumulated in Aloe arborescens Mill. leaves under high-light stress with special reference to its photoprotective function. Photochem Photobiol Sci 4:333–400

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Merzlyak MN, Chivkunova OB, Maslova IP, Naqvi KR, Solovchenko AE, Klyachko-Gurvich GL (2008a) Light absorption and scattering by cell suspensions of some cyanobacteria and microalgae. Russ J Plant Physiol 55:420–425

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Merzlyak MN, Chivkunova OB, Solovchenko AE, Naqvi KR (2008b) Light absorption by anthocyanins in juvenile, stressed and senescing leaves. J Exp Bot 59:3903–3911

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Merzlyak MN, Melø TB, Naqvi KR (2008c) Effect of anthocyanins, carotenoids and flavonols on chlorophyll fluorescence excitation spectra in apple fruit: signature analysis, assessment, modelling and relevance to photoprotection. J Exp Bot 59:349–359

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mokronosov AT (1981) The onthogenetic aspect of photosynthesis. Nauka Publishing House, Moscow (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Naqvi KR, Melø TB, Raju BB, Jávorfi T, Garab G (1997) Comparison of the absorption spectra of trimers and aggregates of chlorophyll a/b light-harvesting complex LHC II. Spectrochim Acta A 53:1925–1936

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naqvi KR, Merzlyak MN, Melø TB (2004) Absorption and scattering of light by suspensions of cells and subcellular particles: an analysis in terms of Kramers–Kronig relations. Photochem Photobiol Sci 3:132–137

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nishio JN (2000) Why are plants green? Evolution of the higher plant photosynthetic pigment complement. Plant Cell Environ 23:539–548

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Osborne BA, Raven JA (1986) Light absorption by plants and its implications for photosynthesis. Biol Rev 61:1–61

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pfündel EE, Agati G, Cerovic ZG (2006) Optical properties of plant surfaces. In: Riederer M, Müller C (eds) Biology of the plant cuticle. Annual Plant Reviews. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, pp 216–249

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Rabideau GS, French CS, Holt AS (1946) The absorption and reflection spectra of leaves, and chloroplast pigments as measured in an Ulbricht sphere. Am J Bot 33:769–777

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson SP (1983) Isolation of intact chloroplasts with high CO2 fixation capacity from sugarbeet leaves containing calcium oxalate. Photosynth Res 4:281–287

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rühle W, Wild A (1979) The intensification of absorbance changes in leaves by light-dispersion. Differences between high-light and low-light leaves. Planta 146:551–557

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solovchenko A, Merzlyak M (2003) Optical properties and contribution of cuticle to UV protection in plants: experiments with apple fruit. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2:861–866

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Solovchenko AE, Merzlyak MN (2008) Screening of visible and UV radiation as a photoprotective mechanism in plants. Russ J Plant Physiol 55:719–737

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Terashima I, Fujita T, Inoue T, Chow WS, Oguchi R (2009) Green light drives leaf photosynthesis more efficiently than red light in strong white light: revisiting the enigmatic question of why leaves are green. Plant Cell Physiol 50:684–697

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tsel’niker YL (1975) Effect of light intensity on optical properties of chloroplasts and leaf tissues in trees. Sov J Plant Physiol 22:592–597

    Google Scholar 

  • Ustin SL, Jacquemoud S, Govaerts Y (2001) Simulation of photon transport in a three-dimensional leaf: implications for photosynthesis. Plant Cell Environ 24:1095–1103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woolley JT (1975) Refractive index of soybean leaf cell walls. Plant Physiol 55:172–174

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Prof. S. A. Gostimsky for the gift of geranium mutant, and Dr. A. E. Solovchenko for his helpful discussions. This study was supported in part by Russian Fund for Basic Research (Grant No. 09-04-00419-a).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology of Microorganisms, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, GSP-1, 119991, Moscow, Russia

    Mark N. Merzlyak & Olga B. Chivkunova

  2. Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, GSP-1, 119991, Moscow, Russia

    Tatiana V. Zhigalova

  3. Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491, Trondheim, Norway

    K. Razi Naqvi

Authors
  1. Mark N. Merzlyak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Olga B. Chivkunova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tatiana V. Zhigalova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. K. Razi Naqvi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mark N. Merzlyak.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Merzlyak, M.N., Chivkunova, O.B., Zhigalova, T.V. et al. Light absorption by isolated chloroplasts and leaves: effects of scattering and ‘packing’. Photosynth Res 102, 31–41 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-009-9481-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-009-9481-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation