Ascorbic Acid-Induced Photosynthetic Adaptability of Processing Tomatoes to Salt Stress Probed by Fast OJIP Fluorescence Rise

In this study, the protective role of exogenous ascorbic acid (AsA) on salt-induced inhibition of photosynthesis in the seedlings of processing tomatoes under salt stress has been investigated. Plants under salt stress (NaCl, 100 mmol/L) were foliar-sprayed with AsA (0.5 mmol/L), lycorine (LYC, 0.25 mmol/L, an inhibitor of key AsA synthesis enzyme l-galactono-γ-lactone dehydrogenase activity), or AsA plus LYC. The effects of AsA on fast OJIP fluorescence rise curve and JIP parameters were then examined. Our results demonstrated that applying exogenous AsA significantly changed the composition of O-J-I-P fluorescence transients in plants subjected to salt stress both with and without LYC. An increase in basal fluorescence (Fo) and a decrease in maximum fluorescence (Fm) were observed. Lower K- and L-bands and higher I-band were detected on the OJIP transient curves compared, respectively, with salt-stressed plants with and without LYC. AsA application also significantly increased the values of normalized total complementary area (Sm), relative variable fluorescence intensity at the I-step (VI), absorbed light energy (ABS/CSm), excitation energy (TRo/CSm), and reduction energy entering the electron transfer chain beyond QA (ETo/CSm) per reaction centre (RC) and electron transport flux per active RC (ETo/RC), while decreasing some others like the approximated initial slope of the fluorescence transient (Mo), relative variable fluorescence intensity at the K-step (VK), average absorption (ABS/RC), trapping (TRo/RC), heat dissipation (DIo/RC) per active RC, and heat dissipation per active RC (DIo/CSm) in the presence or absence of LYC. These results suggested that exogenous AsA counteracted salt-induced photoinhibition mainly by modulating the endogenous AsA level and redox state in the chloroplast to promote chlorophyll synthesis and alleviate the damage of oxidative stress to photosynthetic apparatus. AsA can also raise the efficiency of light utilization as well as excitation energy dissipation within the photosystem II (PSII) antennae, thus increasing the stability of PSII and promoting the movement of electrons among PS1 and PSII in tomato seedling leaves subjected to salt stress.

Structural and functional disorder in the photosynthetic apparatus of radish plants under magnesium deficiency

Magnesium (Mg) is one of the significant macronutrients which is involved in the structural stabilisation of plant tissues and many enzymes such as PSII. The latter efficiency and performance were analysed, using chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence induction kinetics and microscopic images, to detect the changes in structure and function of photosynthetic apparatus of radish plants grown under Mg deficiency (Mgdef). Plants grown under Mgdef showed less PSII connectivity and fewer active primary electron acceptors (QA) oxidizing reaction centres than control plants. Confocal and electron microscopy analyses showed an increased amount of starch in chloroplasts, and 3,3ʹ-diaminobenzidine (DAB)-uptake method revealed higher H2O2 accumulation under Mgdef. Prominent changes in the Chl a fluorescence parameters such as dissipated energy flux per reaction centre (DIo/RC), relative variable fluorescence at 150 μs (Vl), and the sum of the partial driving forces for the events involved in OJIP fluorescence rise (DFabs) were observed under Mg deficiency. The latter also significantly affected some other parameters such as dissipated energy fluxes per cross-section (DIo/CSo), performance index for energy conservation from photons absorbed by PSII antenna until the reduction of PSI acceptors (PItotal), and relative variable fluorescence at 300 μs (Vk). This work emphasises the use of chlorophyll fluorescence in combination with microscopic and statistical analyses to diagnose the effects of nutrients deficiency stress on plants at an early stage of its development as demonstrated for the example of Mgdef. Due to the short growth period and simple cultivation conditions of radish plant we recommend it as a new standard (model) plant to study nutrients deficiency and changes in plant photosynthetic efficiency under stress conditions.

The effect of storage temperature of cucumber fruit on chlorophyll fluorescence

The effect of three storage temperature levels: 12,5°C, 20°C, and 1,5°C on basic indexes of chlorophyll fluorescence of cucumber fruits was studied. The greenhouse grown cucumber fruits cv. Wiktor F1 were stored in perforated polyethylene bags or without packages. The minimum chlorophyll fluorescence (Fo), maximum chlorophyll fluorescence (Fm), variable chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv) and relative variable fluorescence (Fv/Fm) of the cucumber peel were measured. Relative variable fluorescence was decTeasing when cucumbers were stored at temperature lower or higher than optimum level. The chlorophyll fluorescence measurements can be helpful for determination of appropriate temperature parameters of cucumber storage.