The aim of this study was to explore the role of the mitochondrial alternative oxidase (AOX) in the protection of photosynthesis during drought in wheat leaves. The relative water contents of water-replete and drought-exposed wheat plants were 97.2+/-0.3 and 75+/-2, respectively. Drought increased the amount of leaf AOX protein and also enhanced the rate of AOX-dependent O(2) uptake by the resp...

"NYB" is a chlorophyll-less barley mutant, which grows relatively slow and unhealthily. The effects of water stress on photosystem II (PSII) of NYB and its wild type (WT) were investigated. Unexpected results indicated that the mutant was more resistant to water stress, because: PSII core proteins D1, D2 and LHCII declined more in WT than in NYB under water stress, and the corresponding psbA, p...

The mechanisms underlying the wavelength dependence of the quantum yield for CO(2) fixation (α) and its acclimation to the growth-light spectrum are quantitatively addressed, combining in vivo physiological and in vitro molecular methods. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) was grown under an artificial sunlight spectrum, shade light spectrum, and blue light, and the quantum yield for photosystem I (PSI...

In Mimosa pudica L., heat stimulation triggers leaflet folding in local, neighbouring and distant leaves. Stomatal movements were observed microscopically during this folding reaction and electrical potentials, chlorophyll fluorescence, and leaf CO(2)/H(2)O-gas exchange were measured simultaneously. Upon heat stimulation of a neighbouring pinna, epidermal cells depolarized and the stomata began...

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is one of the most important medicinal and aromatic plants. Light intensity an indispensable factor for plants due to its effect on photosynthesis physiological processes. Here, we investigated impact light intensities harvesting times green purple basil. The experiment involved subjecting three different levels sunlight 12 days: complete—100%, 50%, 30%—sunlight. In ...

Exposure of plants to irradiances far above the light saturation point of photosynthesis, known as highlight stress, induces various responses including light adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus and chloroplast ultrastructure by formation of sun-type chloroplasts. The latter possess a lower cross section for light absorption (less light-harvesting chlorophyll proteins) and higher rates o...

Mechanical stimulation of trigger hairs on the adaxial surface of the trap of Dionaea muscipula leads to the generation of action potentials and to rapid leaf movement. After rapid closure secures the prey, the struggle against the trigger hairs results in generation of further action potentials which inhibit photosynthesis. A detailed analysis of chlorophyll a fluorescence kinetics and gas exc...

Supplemental artificial light in greenhouses is fundamental to achieving sustainable crop production with high yield and quality. This study’s purpose was investigate the efficacy of supplemental (SL) sources on vegetative reproductive growth cherry tomatoes. Four types were applied, including high-pressure sodium lamps (HPS), a narrow-spectrum LED (NSL), two specific full-spectrum lights (SFL1...

Hibiscus syriacus, a woody ornamental plant with great economic value, is vulnerable to salinity. Hence, its cultivation in saline areas severely restricted. Although grafting H. syriacus onto hamabo rootstock can greatly improve syriacus’s salt resistance, the photosynthetic response of and stress remains largely unknown. To address this question, self-rooted (Hs), self-grafted (Hs/Hs), hamabo...