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Plant Gas Exchange and Photosynthesis in a Changing Environment

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2020) | Viewed by 21420

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mauro Centritto

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Institute for Sustainable Pant Protection - National Research Council of Italy, 10 Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Firenze, Italy
Interests: environmental physiology; photosynthesis; biogenic volatile organic compounds; plant growth; carbon allocation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Tiina Tosens

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Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
Interests: phenotypic plasticity; nitrogen use efficiency; water use efficiency; acclimation; plant cell biology, plant physiology, abiotic stress, biotic stress, stress response, chlorophyll fluorescence, phylogeny, adaptation, ultrastructure, chloroplast, respiration, gas-exchange, plant- environment interactions

Dr. Matthew Haworth

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Guest Editor

Institute for Sustainable Pant Protection - National Research Council of Italy, 10 Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Firenze, Italy
Interests: stomatal control; stomatal evolution; photosynthesis; elevated [CO₂]; drought
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Environmental change poses serious challenges to the sustainability of natural ecosystems and agricultural crop production. Rising average global temperatures, more frequent heat waves, longer drought events, increasing atmospheric [CO₂], rising levels of tropospheric ozone, temporal/spatial shifts in precipitation, and salinity will directly affect plant photosynthesis. Population growth accompanied by reductions in the availability of fresh water and land for agricultural production (due to land degradation, increased urbanisation, and/or the expansion of non-food crops) necessitate enhanced crop and water productivity. The increases in the yield of staple crops achieved through traditional breeding programs have been underpinned by enhanced leaf level photosynthesis and stomatal conductance. However, scarcity of water poses a particular constraint to crop production as droughts become more severe and the availability of fresh water for irrigation declines. This interaction of water deficit, rising [CO₂], higher temperatures, and other abiotic stresses on photosynthetic carbon gain (biochemical and diffusive limitations), plant water relations, stomatal control, protective physiological mechanisms (antioxidants, energy dissipation), and the emission of volatile organic compounds will determine the sustainability of future agricultural productivity and the viability of natural ecosystems. The development of precision irrigation and agriculture monitoring systems to utilise water availability more effectively, maximise productivity, and conduct field-based phenotyping require in-depth knowledge of the physiological processes regulating photosynthetic CO₂ uptake and water loss. Gas exchange analysis provides valuable information concerning plant–environment interactions and plant physiological status. This information is central to phenotyping programs and understanding the responses of natural vegetation to climate change.

This Special Issue will focus on the impact of changing environments on C3 and C4 photosynthetic physiologies, plant–water relations, leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, secondary metabolism, and genetics towards developing more resilient and productive agriculture and elucidating the responses of natural vegetation to shifts in their environment.

Dr. Mauro Centritto
Dr. Tiina Tosens
Dr. Matthew Haworth
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

photosynthesis regulation
stomatal conductance
mesophyll conductance
chlorophyll fluorescence
secondary metabolism
plant–water relations
biotic and abiotic stress
anatomical and morphological characterization
climate change
WUE
physiological, molecular, biochemical, and genetic advances in photosynthesis
phenotypic/genotypic response
phenotyping

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2195 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hyperspectral Reflectance of Light-Adapted Leaves Can Predict Both Dark- and Light-Adapted Chl Fluorescence Parameters, and the Effects of Chronic Ozone Exposure on Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera)

by Lorenzo Cotrozzi, Giacomo Lorenzini, Cristina Nali, Elisa Pellegrini, Vincenzo Saponaro, Yasutomo Hoshika, Leila Arab, Heinz Rennenberg and Elena Paoletti

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(17), 6441; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21176441 - 03 Sep 2020

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 2569

Abstract

High-throughput and large-scale measurements of chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlF) are of great interest to investigate the photosynthetic performance of plants in the field. Here, we tested the capability to rapidly, precisely, and simultaneously estimate the number of pulse-amplitude-modulation ChlF parameters commonly calculated from both dark- and light-adapted leaves (an operation which usually takes tens of minutes) from the reflectance of hyperspectral data collected on light-adapted leaves of date palm seedlings chronically exposed in a FACE facility to three ozone (O₃) concentrations (ambient air, AA; target 1.5 × AA O₃, named as moderate O₃, MO; target 2 × AA O₃, named as elevated O₃, EO) for 75 consecutive days. Leaf spectral measurements were paired with reference measurements of ChlF, and predictive spectral models were constructed using partial least squares regression. Most of the ChlF parameters were well predicted by spectroscopic models (average model goodness-of-fit for validation, R²: 0.53–0.82). Furthermore, comparing the full-range spectral profiles (i.e., 400–2400 nm), it was possible to distinguish with high accuracy (81% of success) plants exposed to the different O₃ concentrations, especially those exposed to EO from those exposed to MO and AA. This was possible even in the absence of visible foliar injury and using a moderately O₃-susceptible species like the date palm. The latter view is confirmed by the few variations of the ChlF parameters, that occurred only under EO. The results of the current study could be applied in several scientific fields, such as precision agriculture and plant phenotyping. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Gas Exchange and Photosynthesis in a Changing Environment)

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26 pages, 3184 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Local and Systemic Changes in Photosynthetic Parameters and Antioxidant Activity in Cucumber Challenged with Pseudomonas syringae pv lachrymans

by Tomasz Kopczewski, Elżbieta Kuźniak, Andrzej Kornaś, Grzegorz Rut, Michał Nosek, Iwona Ciereszko and Lech Szczepaniak

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(17), 6378; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21176378 - 02 Sep 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2213

Abstract

We studied changes in gas exchange, photochemical activity and the antioxidant system in cucumber leaves locally infected with Pseudomonas syringae pv lachrymans and in uninfected systemic ones. Infection-induced declined net photosynthesis rate and the related changes in transpiration rate, the intracellular CO₂ concentration, and prolonged reduction in maximal PSII quantum yield (Fv/Fm), accompanied by an increase in non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), were observed only in the infected leaves, along with full disease symptom development. Infection severely affected the ROS/redox homeostasis at the cellular level and in chloroplasts. Superoxide dismutase, ascorbate, and tocopherol were preferentially induced at the early stage of pathogenesis, whereas catalase, glutathione, and the ascorbate–glutathione cycle enzymes were activated later. Systemic leaves retained their net photosynthesis rate and the changes in the antioxidant system were partly like those in the infected leaves, although they occurred later and were less intense. Re-balancing of ascorbate and glutathione in systemic leaves generated a specific redox signature in chloroplasts. We suggest that it could be a regulatory element playing a role in integrating photosynthesis and redox regulation of stress, aimed at increasing the defense capacity and maintaining the growth of the infected plant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Gas Exchange and Photosynthesis in a Changing Environment)

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24 pages, 4517 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Shade Effects on Peanut Yield Associate with Physiological and Expressional Regulation on Photosynthesis and Sucrose Metabolism

by Tingting Chen, Huajian Zhang, Ruier Zeng, Xinyue Wang, Luping Huang, Leidi Wang, Xuewen Wang and Lei Zhang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(15), 5284; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21155284 - 25 Jul 2020

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3329

Abstract

Intercropping improves land utilization with more crops grown together; however, shorter crops in intercropping experience stress, being shaded by the taller crops. Systematic changes in phenotype, physiology, yield, and gene regulation under shade stress in peanut are largely unknown, although shade responses have been well analyzed in model plants. We exposed peanut plants to simulated 40% and 80% shade for 15 and 30 days at the seedling stage, flowering stage, and both stages. Shade caused the increased elongation growth of the main stem, internode, and leaf, and elongation was positively associated with auxin levels. Shade stress reduced peanut yield. Further comparative RNA-seq analyses revealed expressional changes in many metabolism pathways and common core sets of expressional regulations in all shade treatments. Expressional downregulation of most genes for light-harvesting and photosynthesis agreed with the observed decreased parameters of photosynthesis processes. Other major regulations included expressional downregulation of most core genes in the sucrose and starch metabolism, and growth-promoting genes in plant hormone signal pathways. Together, the results advance our understanding of physiological and molecular regulation in shade avoidance in peanut, which could guide the breeding designing in the intercropping system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Gas Exchange and Photosynthesis in a Changing Environment)

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21 pages, 4240 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lipid Peroxidation and Chlorophyll Fluorescence of Photosystem II Performance during Drought and Heat Stress is Associated with the Antioxidant Capacities of C3 Sunflower and C4 Maize Varieties

by Dilek Killi, Antonio Raschi and Filippo Bussotti

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(14), 4846; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21144846 - 09 Jul 2020

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 3547

Abstract

Agricultural production is predicted to be adversely affected by an increase in drought and heatwaves. Drought and heat damage cellular membranes, such as the thylakoid membranes where photosystem II occurs (PSII). We investigated the chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) of PSII, photosynthetic pigments, membrane damage, and the activity of protective antioxidants in drought-tolerant and -sensitive varieties of C3 sunflower and C4 maize grown at 20/25 and 30/35 °C. Drought-tolerant varieties retained PSII electron transport at lower levels of water availability at both temperatures. Drought and heat stress, in combination and isolation, had a more pronounced effect on the ChlF of the C3 species. For phenotyping, the maximum fluorescence was the most effective ChlF measure in characterizing varietal variation in the response of both species to drought and heat. The drought-tolerant sunflower and maize showed lower lipid peroxidation under drought and heat stress. The greater retention of PSII function in the drought-tolerant sunflower and maize at higher temperatures was associated with an increase in the activities of antioxidants (glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase), whereas antioxidant activity declined in the drought-sensitive varieties. Antioxidant activity should play a key role in the development of drought- and heat-tolerant crops for future food security. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Gas Exchange and Photosynthesis in a Changing Environment)

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18 pages, 2874 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Functional and Structural Leaf Plasticity Determine Photosynthetic Performances during Drought Stress and Recovery in Two Platanus orientalis Populations from Contrasting Habitats

by Violeta Velikova, Carmen Arena, Luigi Gennaro Izzo, Tsonko Tsonev, Dimitrina Koleva, Massimiliano Tattini, Olympia Roeva, Anna De Maio and Francesco Loreto

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(11), 3912; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21113912 - 30 May 2020

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3351

Abstract

In the context of climatic change, more severe and long-lasting droughts will modify the fitness of plants, with potentially worse consequences on the relict trees. We have investigated the leaf phenotypic (anatomical, physiological and biochemical) plasticity in well-watered, drought-stressed and re-watered plants of two populations of Platanus orientalis, an endangered species in the west of the Mediterranean area. The two populations originated in contrasting climate (drier and warmer, Italy (IT) population; more humid and colder, Bulgaria (BG) population). The IT control plants had thicker leaves, enabling them to maintain higher leaf water content in the dry environment, and more spongy parenchyma, which could improve water conductivity of these plants and may result in easier CO₂ diffusion than in BG plants. Control BG plants were also characterized by higher photorespiration and leaf antioxidants compared to IT plants. BG plants responded to drought with greater leaf thickness shrinkage. Drought also caused substantial reduction in photosynthetic parameters of both IT and BG plants. After re-watering, photosynthesis did not fully recover in either of the two populations. However, IT leaves became thicker, while photorespiration in BG plants further increased, perhaps indicating sustained activation of defensive mechanisms. Overall, our hypothesis, that plants with a fragmented habitat (i.e., the IT population) lose phenotypic plasticity but acquire traits allowing better resistance to the climate where they became adapted, remains confirmed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Gas Exchange and Photosynthesis in a Changing Environment)

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14 pages, 3779 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Overproduction of Rubisco Activase on Rubisco Content in Transgenic Rice Grown at Different N Levels

by Mao Suganami, Yuji Suzuki, Eri Kondo, Shinji Nishida, So Konno and Amane Makino

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(5), 1626; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21051626 - 27 Feb 2020

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3401

Abstract

It has been reported that overproduction of Rubisco activase (RCA) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) decreased Rubisco content, resulting in declining photosynthesis. We examined the effects of RCA levels on Rubisco content using transgenic rice with overexpressed or suppressed RCA under the control of different promoters of the RCA and Rubisco small subunit (RBCS) genes. All plants were grown hydroponically with different N concentrations (0.5, 2.0 and 8.0 mM-N). In RCA overproduced plants with > 2-fold RCA content (RCA-HI lines), a 10%–20% decrease in Rubisco content was observed at 0.5 and 2.0 mM-N. In contrast, at 8.0 mM-N, Rubisco content did not change in RCA-HI lines. Conversely, in plants with 50%–60% increased RCA content (RCA-MI lines), Rubisco levels remained unchanged, regardless of N concentration. Such effects on Rubisco content were independent of the promoter that was used. In plants with RCA suppression to < 10% of the wild-type RCA content, Rubisco levels were increased at 0.5 mM-N, but were unchanged at 2.0 and 8.0 mM-N. Thus, the effects of the changes in RCA levels on Rubisco content depended on N supply. Moreover, RCA overproduction was feasible without a decrease in Rubisco content, depending on the degree of RCA production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Gas Exchange and Photosynthesis in a Changing Environment)

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15 pages, 3509 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Comparison of the Variable J and Carbon-Isotopic Composition of Sugars Methods to Assess Mesophyll Conductance from the Leaf to the Canopy Scale in Drought-Stressed Cherry

by Giovanni Marino, Matthew Haworth, Andrea Scartazza, Roberto Tognetti and Mauro Centritto

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(4), 1222; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21041222 - 12 Feb 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2050

Abstract

Conductance of CO₂ across the mesophyll (G_m) frequently constrains photosynthesis (P_N) but cannot be measured directly. We examined G_m of cherry (Prunus avium L.) subjected to severe drought using the variable J method and carbon-isotopic composition (δ¹³C) of sugars from the centre of the leaf, the leaf petiole sap, and sap from the largest branch. Depending upon the location of the plant from which sugars are sampled, G_m may be estimated over scales ranging from a portion of the leaf to a canopy of leaves. Both the variable J and δ¹³C of sugars methods showed a reduction in G_m as soil water availability declined. The δ¹³C of sugars further from the source of their synthesis within the leaf did not correspond as closely to the diffusive and C-isotopic discrimination conditions reflected in the instantaneous measurement of gas exchange and chlorophyll-fluorescence utilised by the variable J approach. Post-photosynthetic fractionation processes and/or the release of sugars from stored carbohydrates (previously fixed under different environmental and C-isotopic discrimination conditions) may reduce the efficacy of the δ¹³C of sugars from leaf petiole and branch sap in estimating G_m in a short-term study. Consideration should be given to the spatial and temporal scales at which G_m is under observation in any experimental analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Gas Exchange and Photosynthesis in a Changing Environment)

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