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Chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics, photosynthetic activity, and pigment composition of blue-shade and half-shade leaves as compared to sun and shade leaves of different trees

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Abstract

The chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence induction kinetics, net photosynthetic CO2 fixation rates P N, and composition of photosynthetic pigments of differently light exposed leaves of several trees were comparatively measured to determine the differences in photosynthetic activity and pigment adaptation of leaves. The functional measurements were carried out with sun, half-shade and shade leaves of seven different trees species. These were: Acer platanoides L., Ginkgo biloba L., Fagus sylvatica L., Platanus x acerifolia Willd., Populus nigra L., Quercus robur L., Tilia cordata Mill. In three cases (beech, ginkgo, and oak), we compared the Chl fluorescence kinetics and photosynthetic rates of blue-shade leaves of the north tree crown receiving only blue sky light but no direct sunlight with that of sun leaves. In these cases, we also determined in detail the pigment composition of all four leaf types. In addition, we determined the quantum irradiance and spectral irradiance of direct sunlight, blue skylight as well as the irradiance in half shade and full shade. The results indicate that sun leaves possess significantly higher mean values for the net CO2 fixation rates P N (7.8–10.7 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1 leaf area) and the Chl fluorescence ratio R Fd (3.85–4.46) as compared to shade leaves (mean P N of 2.6–3.8 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1 leaf area.; mean R Fd of 1.94–2.56). Sun leaves also exhibit higher mean values for the pigment ratio Chl a/b (3.14–3.31) and considerably lower values for the weight ratio total chlorophylls to total carotenoids, (a + b)/(x + c), (4.07–4.25) as compared to shade leaves (Chl a/b 2.62–2.72) and (a + b)/(x + c) of 5.18–5.54. Blue-shade and half-shade leaves have an intermediate position between sun and shade leaves in all investigated parameters including the ratio F v/F o (maximum quantum yield of PS2 photochemistry) and are significantly different from sun and shade leaves but could not be differentiated from each other. The mean values of the Chl fluorescence decrease ratio R Fd of blue-shade and half-shade leaves fit well into the strong linear correlation with the net photosynthetic rates P N of sun and shade leaves, thus unequivocally indicating that the determination of the Chl fluorescence decrease ratio R Fd is a fast and indirect measurement of the photosynthetic activity of leaves. The investigations clearly demonstrate that the photosynthetic capacity and pigment composition of leaves and chloroplasts strongly depend on the amounts and quality of light received by the leaves.

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Abbreviations

a + b :

Total chlorophylls a + b

a/b :

Ratio chlorophyll a to b

(a + b)/(x + c):

Weight ratio of total chlorophylls to total carotenoids

Chl:

Chlorophyll

F 690 :

Fluorescence intensity at the red maximum of the chlorophyll fluorescence emission spectrum of a leaf near 690 nm

F d :

Decrease of the chlorophyll fluorescence from F m to F s

F m :

Maximum chlorophyll fluorescence

FMM:

Fluorometer module

F s :

Steady state chlorophyll fluorescence

F v/F o :

Maximum quantum yield of PS2 photochemistry

PAR:

Photosynthetically active radiation

P N :

Photosynthetic net CO2 assimilation rates

PPFD:

Photosynthetic photon flux density

PS2:

Photosynthetic photosystem 2

R Fd :

Ratio of chlorophyll fluorescence decrease (= F d/F s)

R 450/R 660 :

Ratio of blue (450 nm) to red radiation (660 nm)

FR730/R 660 :

Ratio far-red (730 nm) to red radiation (660 nm)

x + c :

Total carotenoids (xanthophylls + carotenes)

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Acknowledgments

F. B. gratefully acknowledges a fellowship from Deutsche Akademischer Austauschdienst DAAD and M. N. a fellowship of the project “BioNetwork” (reg. number: CZ.1.07/2.4.00/31.0025) for their stay at the University of Karlsruhe, now Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT. We thank Mrs. Janina Kaiser for the Chl fluorescence measurements with the FMM, and Mrs. Gabrielle Johnson for English language assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botanical Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Kaiserstr. 12, 76128, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Hartmut K. Lichtenthaler & Claus Buschmann

  2. Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania

    Fatbardha Babani

  3. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Chittussiho 10, Slezská Ostrava, 71000, Ostrava, Czech Republic

    Martin Navrátil

Authors
  1. Hartmut K. Lichtenthaler
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  2. Fatbardha Babani
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  3. Martin Navrátil
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  4. Claus Buschmann
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Correspondence to Hartmut K. Lichtenthaler.

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Dedicated to Prof. Govindjee on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

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Lichtenthaler, H.K., Babani, F., Navrátil, M. et al. Chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics, photosynthetic activity, and pigment composition of blue-shade and half-shade leaves as compared to sun and shade leaves of different trees. Photosynth Res 117, 355–366 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-013-9834-1

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