Photosynthetica, 2024 (vol. 62), issue 1
HISTORY & BIOGRAPHY George Edward Hoch (1931–2023): a great photosynthesis scholar, a real family man, and a wonderful friend to many
G. GOVINDJEE
Photosynthetica 2024, 62(1):1-5 | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2024.001 
We present here a tribute to George E. Hoch, one of the top leaders in deciphering the primary steps of oxygenic photosynthesis. After providing his academic background, we discuss his selected research on the photoreactions of photosynthesis. We end this tribute with reminiscences by Robert S. Knox, Jerome Kaye, and Doris Teichler-Zallen.
Regulation of photosynthesis and water-use efficiency in pima and upland cotton species subjected to drought and recovery
J.M. HAN, J. FLEXAS, D.L. XIONG, J. GALMÉS, Y.L. ZHANG
Photosynthetica 2024, 62(1):6-15 | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2023.036
Photosynthesis is extremely sensitive to drought and decreases due to co-occurring stomatal, mesophyll, and biochemical limitations. Few studies have shown the effects of a drought cycle (drought-rewatering) on photosynthesis and water-use efficiency (WUE) in cotton. Here, the dynamics of photosynthesis in upland (Gossypium hirsutum) and pima (G. barbadense) cotton were analyzed during a drought cycle. While both species decreased net CO2 assimilation rate (PN) to a similar extent under drought, in pima cotton rewatering rapidly restored PN, the stomatal conductance (gs),...
Exogenous calcium-alleviating effect on sodium salt-induced phytotoxicity associated with changes in photosynthetic characteristics of wheat seedlings
Y. ZHANG, G.M. LIU, Z.F. WANG, A.M. ZHANG, Y.L. YANG
Photosynthetica 2024, 62(1):16-26 | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2023.039
To evaluate the Ca-alleviating effect on sodium salt-induced phytotoxicity, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar Xihan 3 seedlings were treated with 150 mM NaCl, CaCl2 (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mM), Ca2+-channel blocker LaCl3, and/or Ca2+ chelator, ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) alone or in combination, to investigate seedling growth and photosynthetic characteristics. NaCl (150 mM) exposure alone suppressed a growth of seedling, weakened photosynthetic efficiency and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence parameters, reduced photosynthetic pigments, Ca2+ and calmodulin (CaM) contents, and downregulated...
Heterocapsa cf. bohaiensis (dinoflagellate): identification and response to nickel and iron stress revealed through chlorophyll a fluorescence
V. MÉRIOT, A. ROUSSEL, N. BRUNET, N. CHOMERAT, G. BILIEN, L. LE DÉAN, V. BERTEAUX-LECELLIER, N. COULOMBIER, N. LEBOUVIER, T. JAUFFRAIS
Photosynthetica 2024, 62(1):27-39 | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2023.038
Metal toxicity in marine ecosystems is a growing issue owing to terrestrial runoff and anthropogenic pollution. Heterocapsa cf. bohaiensis, a newly isolated dinoflagellate from New Caledonia, was cultivated in photobioreactors operating continuously with high concentrations (10-3 M) of nickel (Ni2+) and/or iron (Fe2+) and their photosynthetic efficiency was assessed. The photosynthetic measurements indicated that H. cf. bohaiensis was tolerant to Ni2+ but sensitive to Fe2+ high concentrations. In the presence of Fe2+, maximum quantum efficiency...
Contributions by Christa Critchley to photosynthesis research and to plant ecophysiology
G. GOVINDJEE
Photosynthetica 2024, 62(1):40-43 | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2024.011
Christa Critchley is a distinguished researcher in basic and applied photosynthesis research. Her research has centered on the structure and function of chloroplasts and the application of chlorophyll a fluorescence to understanding the way PSII works. In her research, she used two biophysical tools, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence, as well as several other biochemical and plant physiological methods. Later in her career, she pioneered research in artificial photosynthesis (AP) focusing on the process of light-mediated water splitting and oxygen evolution. Here, only a glimpse of her life and some...
Phosphorus-deficiency stress in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants: early detection based on chosen physiological parameters and statistical analyses
L. SIECZKO, K. KOWALCZYK, J. GAJC-WOLSKA, W. KOWALCZYK, P. DĄBROWSKI, W. BORUCKI, M. JANASZEK-MAŃKOWSKA, J.L. PRZYBYŁ, J. MOJSKI, H.M. KALAJI
Photosynthetica 2024, 62(1):44-57 | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2024.005
Enhancing plant productivity and mitigating the impact of environmental stressors require a thorough understanding of phytomonitoring and physiological features indicative of plant health. This study delves into the response of cucumber plants to phosphorus deficiency employing diverse tools to identify key indicators and unravel the underlying mechanisms. Under phosphorus deficiency, a rapid response in older leaves was observed through the analysis of chlorophyll and carotenoid content. Molecular-level changes in photosynthetic performance were found to be age-dependent, as revealed by multidimensional statistical methods, highlighting the interconnectedness...
Exogenous melatonin alleviates nicosulfuron toxicity by regulating the growth, photosynthetic capacity, and antioxidative defense of sweet corn seedlings
J.X. HUANG, Y.B. LIU, R. XIAO, T. YU, T. GUO, H.W. WANG, X.L. LV, X.N. LI, M. ZHU, F.H. LI
Photosynthetica 2024, 62(1):58-70 | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2024.004
Improper use of nicosulfuron (NSF) may induce harmful effects on plants during weed control. Melatonin (MT) regulates photosynthetic and physiological processes in plants. This study aimed to explore the effects of MT on alleviating NSF toxicity by measuring the growth parameters, photosynthetic capacity, and antioxidative responses in sweet corn seedlings. Compared to NSF alone, exogenous MT increased chlorophyll content, transpiration rate, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and maximum efficiency of PSⅡ photochemistry, while reduced malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion radical, and proline contents. Moreover, MT...
Effect of cryptochrome 1 deficiency and spectral composition of light on photosynthetic processes in A. thaliana under high-intensity light exposure
A. KHUDYAKOVA, V. KRESLAVSKI, A. KOSOBRYUKHOV, M. VERESHAGIN, S.I. ALLAKHVERDIEV
Photosynthetica 2024, 62(1):71-78 | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2024.009
The role of cryptochrome 1 in photosynthetic processes and pro-/antioxidant balance in the Arabidopsis thaliana plants was studied. Wild type (WT) and hy4 mutant deficient in cryptochrome 1 grown for 20 d under red (RL, 660 nm) and blue (BL, 460 nm) light at an RL:BL = 4:1 ratio were kept for 3 d in different lights: RL:BL = 4:1, RL:BL:GL = 4:1:0.3 (GL - green light, 550 nm), and BL, then were exposed to high irradiance (4 h). Activity of PSII and the rate of photosynthesis in WT and hy4 decreased under the high irradiance in all spectral variants but under BL stronger decrease in the activity was found in the hy4 mutant...
Photosynthetic responses of heat-stressed apple leaves to foliar application of salicylic and ascorbic acid
I. MIHALJEVIĆ, M. VILJEVAC VULETIĆ, V. TOMAŠ, Z. ZDUNIĆ, D. VUKOVIĆ
Photosynthetica 2024, 62(1):79-89 | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2024.006
High temperatures have significant impacts on fruit tree production. Foliar spraying application of promoting agents can be a sustainable approach to managing high-temperature stress in orchards. The mechanism of certain improving agents on photosynthesis is not yet well understood, particularly in fruit trees. Photosynthesis, as a vital and very sensitive process in plants, is a pivotal component in fruit production. Therefore, in this study, we explored the potential of two different promoting agents, salicylic acid (SA) and ascorbic acid (AsA), to alleviate oxidative stress caused by high temperature in controlled conditions (37°C for 1 h) at the...
Isolation, cloning, and gene expression analysis of phosphoglycolate phosphatase from green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
T. MAMEDOV, G. ZAKIYEVA, F. DEMIREL, G. MAMMADOVA, G. HASANOVA
Photosynthetica 2024, 62(1):90-101 | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2024.002
Phosphoglycolate phosphatase (PGPase), a key enzyme in photosynthetic organisms, catalyzes the dephosphorylation of phosphoglycolate, which is largely produced by the oxygenase activity of Rubisco, and is a potent inhibitor of several Calvin cycle enzymes. PGPase (CrPGPase 1) was previously cloned, purified, and characterized from unicellular green Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. In silico analysis revealed two more candidates encoding PGPase enzymes in the C. reinhardtii genome. In this study, we isolated, cloned, and overexpressed three PGPase genes (pgp1, pgp2, pgp3) from C. reinhardtii and performed...
Physiological and molecular characteristics associated with the anti-senescence in Camellia oleifera Abel.
Z. ZHANG, Y.M. XU, Z.L. HE, C.X. LIU, R. WANG, X.N. WANG, Y.H. PENG, L.S. CHEN, S.F. PENG, L. MA, Z.G. LI, W. TANG, Y.Z. CHEN, J. CHEN, X.H. YANG
Photosynthetica 2024, 62(1):102-111 | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2024.003
This study analyzed physiological and molecular characteristics associated with the resistance to aging or anti-senescence in Camellia oleifera Abel. Trees over 100 years old (ancient trees) were compared with those about 30 years old (mature trees). Total chlorophylls, chlorophyll a/b ratio, and hydrogen peroxide concentrations in ancient tree leaves were significantly higher than in their counterparts. Significantly higher activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase were detected in ancient tree leaves. Nine Chl a/b-binding protein genes, 15 antioxidant enzyme genes, 21 hormone-related genes, and...
Photosynthetic acclimation to temperature is affected by night temperature in Zea mays
J.A. BUNCE
Photosynthetica 2024, 62(1):112-115 | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2024.008
In this study, Zea mays L. was grown in indoor controlled environment chambers with a uniform daytime temperature of 30°C, and night-time temperatures of 30, 25, 20, or 15°C. Responses of net photosynthesis (PN) of mature leaves at high PPFD to intercellular CO2 concentrations (Ci) were measured at 20, 25, and 30°C using a new method that generates a complete PN vs. Ci curve in less than four minutes. Results indicated that photosynthesis measured at both Ci values of 25 and 150 μmol mol-1 increased strongly with measurement...
Photosystem II efficiency in response to diurnal and seasonal variations in photon flux density and air temperature for green, yellow-green, and purple-leaved cultivars of sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam]
J.Y. JIANG, C.W. WANG, C.I. CHEN, C.W. CHEN, S.L. WONG, S.P. CHEN, M.Y. HUANG, J.H. WENG
Photosynthetica 2024, 62(1):116-125 | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2024.007
This study aimed to investigate the impact of diurnal and seasonal variations in photon flux density (PPFD) and air temperature on PSII efficiency in three sweet potato leaf-color cultivars: green (G), yellow-green (Y), and purple (P). The cultivars were exposed to full sunlight and measurements were taken from November to March. The maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry for the dark-adapted state (Fv/Fm) indicated Y's increased sensitivity to low temperatures at predawn, followed by G and P. Both quantum yield of PSII photochemistry for the dark and light-adapted state (ΔF/Fm') depressions were correlated...
Cold plasma treatment influences the physiological parameters of millet
J. PERNER, J. MATOUŠEK, H. AUER MALINSKÁ
Photosynthetica 2024, 62(1):126-137 | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2024.010
In recent years, cold plasma treatment has emerged as a promising method to positively impact early seed growth. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cold plasma treatment on millet seeds with ambient air plasma discharge at pressures of 100 Pa and power ranging from 40 to 250 W. Results indicated that cold plasma treatment significantly increased radicle length by up to 112.5% (250 W) after 48 h and up to 57% (120 W) after 72 h compared to nontreated plants. The study also found that cold plasma treatment influenced electron transport during the primary phase of photosynthesis, with the effect varying with the power of discharge. However,...