Integrated high-resolution phenotyping, chlorophyll fluorescence induction kinetics and photosystem II dynamics under water stress and heat in Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

An experiment was conducted in controlled conditions in three varieties of wheat under water stress, heat and heat +water stress treatments with the objective of studying Chlorophyll a fluorescence, chlorophyll fluorescence induction kinetics and the function of Photosystem II by plant phenotyping as affected by stress. We hypothesised that during stress, specific adaptive strategies are employed by plants, such as structural and functional changes in PS II by which they acquire new homeostasis which may be protective adaptations. Water stress stress treatment was imposed on Water stress and Heat +Water stress treatments at 43 DAS. Heat treatment was imposed on 48 DAS. Maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry was measured with PAM 2500 and OJIP was measured with FluorPen FP 100 after the onset of stress at four observation times on two days viz., pre-dawn and afternoon during stress. In addition continuous monitoring of photosynthetic efficiency was done with Monitoring PAM. Heat +Water stress stress was more detrimental as compared to Heat or Water stress alone in terms of maximum quantum yield of photochemistry. This could have been due to higher decrease in connectivity between PSII and its antennae resulting in lower photosynthetic efficiency resulting in the impairment and disruption of the electron transport. K step was observed in heat stress and heat +Water stress stress which may be because of damage to Oxygen Evolving Complex indicating that low thermostability of the complex. The stress treatments had a reduction in the plastoquinone pool size as indicated by the reduced area above the OJIP curve. Our study indicated that the instrument PAM 2500 sensed both stresses separately and combined earlier than the other instruments, so in terms of sensitivity PAM 2500 was more effective than FluorPen FP 100 and MultispeQ. Rapid screening of stress was more effectively with FluorPen FP 100 and MultispeQ than by PAM 2500.