Upregulation of the mitochondrial alternative oxidase pathway improves PSII function and photosynthetic electron transport in tomato seedlings under chilling stress

The aim of this study was to explore how the mitochondrial alternative oxidase (AOX) pathway alleviates photoinhibition in chilled tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seedlings. Chilling induced seedlings despite increases thermal energy dissipation and cyclic electron flow around PSI (CEF-PSI). inhibited function PSII blocked transport at acceptor side, however, it did not affect oxygen-evolving complex on donor side PSII. Upregulation AOX protects against by improving photosynthetic under chilling stress. maintained open state stability entire chain. Moreover, protective role more important than that PSI. However, inhibition could be compensated increasing CEF-PSI activity