Photoacclimation is a process by which photosynthetic capacity is regulated in response to environmental adjustments in terms of light regime. Photoacclimation is essential in determining the photosynthetic capacity to optimize light use and to avoid potentially damaging effects. Previous work in our laboratory has identified a gene, gpt2 (At1g61800) that is essential for plants to acclimate to an increase in growth irradiance. Furthermore, we observed that the accession Columbia-0 (Col-0) is unable to respond to increases in light. Therefore, a Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) mapping analysis was performed in Landsberg erecta (Ler)/Columbia (Col) recombinant inbred line population to identify novel genes responsible for this variation to acclimation. In order to investigate the photoacclimation in Arabidopsis thaliana, photosynthetic capacity was measured in plants of the accession Wassileskija (WS) and in plants lacking expression of the gene At1g61800 (WS-gpt2) during acclimation from high to low light. Plants were grown for 6 weeks under high light (400 μmol.m-2.s-1) and half of them were transferred to low light (100 μmol.m-2.s-1) after six weeks. Gas exchange measurements were performed in order to measure the maximum capacity for photosynthesis. Acclimation to a decrease in light resulted in a decrease in the photosynthetic capacity in WS and WS-gpt2 plants. This shows that under lower or limiting light, photosynthesis was slowed down. Chlorophyll fluorescence analysis was carried out to measure changes in the quantum efficiency of PSII (ΦPSII) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) during acclimation. ΦPSII decreased in both WS and WS-gpt2 plants showing that under low light, PSII is more saturated. However, it was found that there was no significant changes in NPQ level for both WS and WS-gpt2. To estimate the total chlorophyll and chl a/b ratio, a chlorophyll composition analysis was performed. There was no significant changes in the total chlorophyll for both WS and WS-gpt2. However, the chlorophyll a/b ratio was seen to be decreased in low light plants representing an increase in light harvesting complexes relative to reaction centre core. Plants of WS and WS-gpt2 were also grown under natural variable light in an unheated greenhouse in Manchester, UK. This experiment was carried out to study the photosynthetic acclimation of plants under fluctuating light condition. A preliminary work on gene expression of gpt2 was conducted by doing reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). It shows that the gene expression of gpt2 decreased following transfer to low light plants in WS. Microarray analysis was also performed to investigate the role of GPT2 (if any) and to identify any potential gene that is important in high to low light acclimation.

As anthropogenically-forced ocean temperatures continue to rise, the physiological response of marine macrophytes becomes exceedingly relevant. The Red Sea is a semi-isolated sea- the warmest in the world (SST up to 34°C) - already exhibiting signs of rapid warming rates exceeding those of other tropical oceans. This will have profound effects on the physiology of marine organisms, specifically marine macrophytes, which have direct influence on the dynamic carbonate system of the Red Sea. The aim of this paper is to define the physiological capability and thermal optima and limits of six ecologically important Red Sea macrophytes- ranging from seagrasses to calcifying and non-calcifying algae- and to describe the effects of increasing thermal stress on the performance and limits of each macrophyte in terms of activation energy. Of the species considered, Halophila stipulacae, Halimeda optunia, Halimeda monile and Padina pavonica thrive in thermal extremes and may be more successful in future Red Sea warming scenarios. Specifically, Halimeda opuntia increased productivity and calcification rates up to 38°C, making it the most thermally resilient macrophyte. Halophila stipulacae is the most productive seagrass, and hence has the greatest positive effect on Omega saturation state and offers chemical buffer capacity to future ocean acidification.

Light and temperature are two of the most important environmental factors regulating plant development. Although heat stress has been well studied, little is known about the interaction between light and temperature. In this study, we performed phenotypic assays comparing seedling responses to heat under light and dark conditions. Seedlings exposed to heat in the dark show lower survival rates than seedlings stressed in the light. To identify transcriptional changes underlying light-dependent heat tolerance, we used RNA-sequencing. The light-dependent heat stress responses involved a plethora of genes which could be potential candidate genes for light-induced heat tolerance, including transcription factors (bHLH) and genes commonly associated with biotic stress. By using the latest high-throughput phenotyping facility, we found that the light-dependent heat tolerance is reflected more on the maintenance of photosynthetic capacity, rather than leaf temperature. These results provide insights into how light increases heat stress tolerance in Arabidopsis seedlings and suggest its underlying mechanisms.

Donor-acceptor systems have unique properties that make them ideal candidates for solar energy harvesting through mimicry of natural photosynthesis. This dissertation is focused on unraveling those unique properties in various types of donor-acceptor systems. The systems investigated are categorized as closely linked, push-pull, supramolecular, and multi-unit. As part of the study, photosynthetic analogues based on BF2-chelated dipyrromethene (BODIPY), porphyrin, phthalocyanine, truxene, ferrocene, quinone, phenothiazine (PTZ), perylenediimide (PDI), fullerene (C60), dicyanoquinodimethane (DCNQ), tetracyanobutadiene (TCBD), and triphenylamine (TPA) are investigated. The effects of proximity between donor-acceptor entities, their geometrical orientation relative to each other, push-pull character of substituents, and competitive energy and electron transfer are examined. In all systems, primary events of photosynthesis are observed, that is absorption and energy transfer and/or electron transfer is witnessed. Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy is utilized to characterize the photo-induced events, while other methods such as steady-state luminescence, cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and computational calculations are used to aid in the characterization of the donor-acceptor systems, in particular their applicability as solar energy harvesters.

Rising atmospheric CO2 and the need to understand potential impacts on terrestrial ecosystems has become increasingly recognized. Models can play a beneficial part in this research to enhance understanding of ecosystem responses to changing conditions like elevated CO2. In this study, data from a long term elevated CO2 experiment in a native forested ecosystem in east central Florida were employed to assess the utility of a multi-layer canopy photosynthesis model as a tool to better understand the responses to elevated CO2 in this ecosystem. Model results compared satisfactorily with the canopy gas exchange measurements in this ecosystem for the period modeled. Sensitivity analyses were used to evaluate the robustness of the model and understand the effects that changing model parameters had on model results, i.e. carbon assimilation in the system. The parameters evaluated included canopy height, leaf area density profile, number of canopy layers, maximum rate of carboxylation (Vcmax), and canopy species composition. Results of the sensitivity analyses point to structure and species as being important to carbon assimilation in this ecosystem. Although only an initial examination, this model could be a valuable tool to further understanding of the response of this important ecosystem to increasing CO2 and indicates that further work is certainly warranted.

Turgid, water stressed, and recovered leaf tissue from barley (var. Barbless) and tomato (var. VF 36 ) were analyzed for total chlorophyll, soluble protein, RuDPCase concentration, and RuDPCase specific activity. Water stress caused a reduction in all physiological characteristics measured. The reduction in concentration of chlorophyll, soluble protein and RuDPCase specific activity in both plants paralleled decreased water potential during first wilt. Changes associated with barley plants as compared to tomato first wilt plants were more pronounced. Barley lost 25% more water than tomato. Repeated wilt cycles increased sensitivity of tomato plants to reduction in chlorophyll content, soluble protein concentration, and RuDPCase specific activity. After a period of rewatering (24 hours) levels of chlorophyll content, soluble protein concentration, and RuDPCase specific activity returned to approximately control levels. Specific activity of RuDPCase is reduced even under low levels of water stress. Concentration of all soluble proteins are not equally reduced as a result of water stress. Total soluble protein was reduced 33% and RuDPCase 11% of control level.

An investigation was made of the photoreduction of indigo carmine dye and flavin mononucleotide (FMN) by an illuminated sugar beet leaf homogenate in the presence of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol dye (DPIP) and ascorbic acid. DPIP and ascorbate were absolutely required for the reaction. Reconstitution experiments indicated a requirement for a heat-labile factor present in the supernatant fluid following centrifugation of the leaf homogenate. This factor activated the photoreduction of indigo carmine more than 20 times. The photoreduction of FMN was activated 2 times by this factor. Studies on the stoichiometry of indigo carmine photoreduction revealed that one mole of ascorbate was photooxidized for each mole of indigo carmine photoreduced. It is postulated that the DPIP-ascorbate couple serves to prevent reoxidation of reduced indigo carmine by either reacting with the photochemical [OH] system or by depleting the O_2 content of the solution.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.