Light Energy Use Efficiency in Photosystem II of Tomato Is Related to Leaf Age and Light Intensity

The fundamental key to increase photosynthetic efficiency of crop plants lies in optimizing the light energy use efficiency. In our study, we used tomato to evaluate the allocation of absorbed light energy in young and mature leaves, and to estimate if the extent of photoinhibition and photoprotecti...

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Main Authors: Julietta Moustaka, Ilektra Sperdouli, Michael Moustakas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Crops
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7655/4/4/43
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author Julietta Moustaka
Ilektra Sperdouli
Michael Moustakas
author_facet Julietta Moustaka
Ilektra Sperdouli
Michael Moustakas
author_sort Julietta Moustaka
collection DOAJ
description The fundamental key to increase photosynthetic efficiency of crop plants lies in optimizing the light energy use efficiency. In our study, we used tomato to evaluate the allocation of absorbed light energy in young and mature leaves, and to estimate if the extent of photoinhibition and photoprotection can be affected by the leaf age. A reduced efficiency of the oxygen-evolving complex, in young leaves compared to mature ones, resulted in a donor-side photoinhibition, as judged from the significantly lower F<i>v</i>/F<i>m</i> ratio, in young leaves. The detected increased <sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub> production in young leaves was probably due to a donor-side photoinhibition. The effective quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry (Φ<i><sub>PSII</sub></i>), at low light intensity (LLI, 426 μmol photons m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>), was significantly lower in young compared to mature leaves. Moreover, the non-significant increase in non-photochemical energy loss in PSII (Φ<i><sub>NPQ</sub></i>) could not counteract the decreased Φ<i><sub>PSII</sub></i>, and as a result the non-regulated energy loss in PSII (Φ<i><sub>NO</sub></i>) increased in young leaves, compared to mature ones. The significantly lower Φ<i><sub>PSII</sub></i> in young leaves can be attributed to the increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) creation that diminished the efficiency of the open PSII reaction centers (F<i>v</i>’/F<i>m</i>’), but without having any impact on the fraction of the open reaction centers. The reduced excess excitation energy, in mature leaves compared to young ones, at LLI, also revealed an enhanced PSII efficiency of mature leaves. However, there was almost no difference in the light energy use efficiency between young and mature leaves at the high light intensity (HLI, 1000 μmol photons m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>). The ability of mature tomato leaves to constrain photoinhibition is possible related to an enhanced photosynthetic function and a better growth rate. We concluded that the light energy use efficiency in tomato leaves is influenced by both the leaf age and the light intensity. Furthermore, the degrees of photoinhibition and photoprotection are related to the leaf developmental stage.
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spelling doaj-art-403448e7ee3a4e0c998abdc75b23da812024-12-27T14:19:31ZengMDPI AGCrops2673-76552024-11-014462363510.3390/crops4040043Light Energy Use Efficiency in Photosystem II of Tomato Is Related to Leaf Age and Light IntensityJulietta Moustaka0Ilektra Sperdouli1Michael Moustakas2Department of Botany, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceInstitute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation-Demeter (ELGO-Demeter), 57001 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Botany, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceThe fundamental key to increase photosynthetic efficiency of crop plants lies in optimizing the light energy use efficiency. In our study, we used tomato to evaluate the allocation of absorbed light energy in young and mature leaves, and to estimate if the extent of photoinhibition and photoprotection can be affected by the leaf age. A reduced efficiency of the oxygen-evolving complex, in young leaves compared to mature ones, resulted in a donor-side photoinhibition, as judged from the significantly lower F<i>v</i>/F<i>m</i> ratio, in young leaves. The detected increased <sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub> production in young leaves was probably due to a donor-side photoinhibition. The effective quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry (Φ<i><sub>PSII</sub></i>), at low light intensity (LLI, 426 μmol photons m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>), was significantly lower in young compared to mature leaves. Moreover, the non-significant increase in non-photochemical energy loss in PSII (Φ<i><sub>NPQ</sub></i>) could not counteract the decreased Φ<i><sub>PSII</sub></i>, and as a result the non-regulated energy loss in PSII (Φ<i><sub>NO</sub></i>) increased in young leaves, compared to mature ones. The significantly lower Φ<i><sub>PSII</sub></i> in young leaves can be attributed to the increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) creation that diminished the efficiency of the open PSII reaction centers (F<i>v</i>’/F<i>m</i>’), but without having any impact on the fraction of the open reaction centers. The reduced excess excitation energy, in mature leaves compared to young ones, at LLI, also revealed an enhanced PSII efficiency of mature leaves. However, there was almost no difference in the light energy use efficiency between young and mature leaves at the high light intensity (HLI, 1000 μmol photons m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>). The ability of mature tomato leaves to constrain photoinhibition is possible related to an enhanced photosynthetic function and a better growth rate. We concluded that the light energy use efficiency in tomato leaves is influenced by both the leaf age and the light intensity. Furthermore, the degrees of photoinhibition and photoprotection are related to the leaf developmental stage.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7655/4/4/43chlorophyll fluorescence imagingeffective quantum yield of PSIIexcess excitation energysinglet oxygenphotoinhibitionphotoprotective heat dissipation
spellingShingle Julietta Moustaka
Ilektra Sperdouli
Michael Moustakas
Light Energy Use Efficiency in Photosystem II of Tomato Is Related to Leaf Age and Light Intensity
Crops
chlorophyll fluorescence imaging
effective quantum yield of PSII
excess excitation energy
singlet oxygen
photoinhibition
photoprotective heat dissipation
title Light Energy Use Efficiency in Photosystem II of Tomato Is Related to Leaf Age and Light Intensity
title_full Light Energy Use Efficiency in Photosystem II of Tomato Is Related to Leaf Age and Light Intensity
title_fullStr Light Energy Use Efficiency in Photosystem II of Tomato Is Related to Leaf Age and Light Intensity
title_full_unstemmed Light Energy Use Efficiency in Photosystem II of Tomato Is Related to Leaf Age and Light Intensity
title_short Light Energy Use Efficiency in Photosystem II of Tomato Is Related to Leaf Age and Light Intensity
title_sort light energy use efficiency in photosystem ii of tomato is related to leaf age and light intensity
topic chlorophyll fluorescence imaging
effective quantum yield of PSII
excess excitation energy
singlet oxygen
photoinhibition
photoprotective heat dissipation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7655/4/4/43
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AT ilektrasperdouli lightenergyuseefficiencyinphotosystemiioftomatoisrelatedtoleafageandlightintensity
AT michaelmoustakas lightenergyuseefficiencyinphotosystemiioftomatoisrelatedtoleafageandlightintensity