American Journal of Plant Sciences
Vol.08 No.03(2017), Article ID:73899,12 pages
10.4236/ajps.2017.83023

Photoinhibition of Leaves with Different Photosynthetic Carbon Assimilation Characteristics in Maize (Zea mays)

Yanye Ruan1,2, Xiaoyang Li1, Yanpeng Wang1, Siqi Jiang1, Bo Song3, Zhiyou Guo3, Ao Zhang1, Qi Qi1, Lijun Zhang1,2, Jinjuan Fan1,2, Yixin Guan4, Zhenhai Cui1,2*, Yanshu Zhu1,2*

1Biological Science and Technology College, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China

2Liaoning Province Research Center of Plant Genetic Engineering Technology, Shenyang, China

3Test Site of Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China

4Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, China

Copyright © 2017 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0).

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Received: December 3, 2016; Accepted: February 1, 2017; Published: February 4, 2017

ABSTRACT

Strong light decreases the rate of photosynthesis and assimilates production of crop plants. Plants with different carbon reduction cycles respond differently to strong light stress. However, variation in photoinhibition in leaves with different photosynthetic characteristics in maize is not clear. In this experiment, we used the first leaves (with an incomplete C4 cycle) and fifth leaves (with a complete C4 cycle) of maize plants as well as the fifth leaves (C3 cycle) of tobacco plants as a reference to measure the photosynthetic rate (PN) and chlorophyll a parameters under strong light stress. During treatment, PN, the maximal fluorescence (Fm), the maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm), and the number of active photosystem II (PSII) reaction centers per excited cross-section (RC/CSm) declined dramatically in all three types of leaves but to different degrees. PN, Fm, Fv/Fm, and RC/CSm were less inhibited by strong light in C4 leaves. The results showed that maize C4 leaves with higher rates of photosynthesis are more tolerant to strong light stress than incomplete C4 leaves, and the carbon reduction cycle is more important to photoprotection in C4 leaves, while state transition is critical in incomplete C4 leaves.

Keywords:

Fluorescence Transient, Photosystem II (PSII), Photoprotection, Light Stress, C4 Photosynthesis

1. Introduction

Strong light is an important factor that reduces photosynthetic activity and limits the production of assimilates in crop plants via a process called photoinhibition [1] . The longer the exposure to excess excitation energy, the more damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. To avoid this damage, plants have evolved a series of protective mechanisms [2] [3] [4] [5] , including photochemical quenching, fluorescence quenching, and thermal dissipation of excess excitation energy. Photochemical quenching is related to the activity of photosystem II (PSII) reaction centers (RC), the efficiency of the electron transfer chain, and the capacity of the photosynthetic carbon cycle. As the terminal destination of excitation energy, the photosynthetic cycle affects the amount of surplus excitation energy absorbed by leaves.

Based on the pathway of photosynthetic carbon fixation, higher plants are classified into three types: C3, C4, and CAM. In C3 plants, photosynthesis operates in mesophyll cells (MC) via PSII and ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/ oxygenase (Rubisco). C4 plants evolved from C3 plants [6] and have a higher carbon reduction efficiency. In typical C4 plants, MC and vascular bundle sheath cells (BSC) in the leaves are arranged in specialized Kranz anatomy around vascular tissues. MC chloroplasts have higher PSII activity and lower Rubisco activity. In contrast, BSC chloroplasts have lower PSII activity and higher Rubisco activity [7] [8] . Additionally, C4 photosynthetic enzymes are distributed in MC and BSC, which cooperate during C4 photosynthesis.

The responses of plants with different photosynthetic pathways to strong light are different [9] [10] [11] . C4 plants are less susceptible to strong light stress than C3 plants [10] . The maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) declined more slowly in C4 maize than that in C3 plants under strong light [12] , while the efficiency of the C4 photosynthetic cycle varies in maize leaves at different positions. The first to third leaves of maize have not completed the differentiation of MC and BSC and thus have a less efficient C4 cycle, with lower activity of C4 photosynthetic enzymes in MC and higher activity of PSII in BSC [13] [14] . However, how these maize leaves differ in photoinhibition is not clear. Knowing this difference and its cause would help to understand the mechanisms of strong light defense in plants. In this paper, we investigated the differences in photoinhibition among the first (incomplete C4 cycle) and fifth (complete C4 cycle) leaves of maize and the fifth leaves (C3 cycle) of the C3 plant tobacco as a reference and analyzed the basis of the differences.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Experimental Materials

Maize hybrid Zhengdan958 (a widely used Chinese hybrid) was crossed by Zheng58 and Chang7-2 inbred at Experimental Station of Shenyang Agricultrual University in the summer of 2012. Tobacco K326 were from plant immunity institute of Shenyang Agricultrual University. Both maize and tobacco were grown in pots in a growth chamber. The photon flux density (PFD) on the plant canopy was 1000 μmol∙m−2・s−1 from metal halogen lamps with a 14 h/10h light/dark cycle at 24˚C/22˚C (day/night). The first (M1) and fifth (M5) fully expanded leaves on maize plants and the fifth (T5) fully expanded leaves on tobacco were used for measurements.

2.2. Treatments

Plants were illuminated for 3 h at 28˚C and a PFD of 2000 μmol・m−2・s−1 as a strong light treatment. A distance of 0.5m above the top of plant were measured. The white light source was 400 W SON-T AGRO lamps (Royal Dutch Philips Electronics Ltd., Amsterdam, Netherlands). Each treatment was repeated with six plants.

2.3. Photosynthetic Rate

Photosynthetic rate (PN) was measured each hour during the light treatment using a potable photosynthesis system (CIRAS-1, PP-system, Hitchin, UK) in normal air from 8:00 am to 11:00 am.

2.4. Photorespiration Rate and Gross Photosynthetic Rate

The Pn was measured at the end of the 3 h light treatment using the CIRAS-1 PP-system in normal air (21% O2 + 75% N2 + 380 μmol・mol CO21) and low- oxygen air (2% O2 + 95% N2 + 380 μmol・mol CO21). The photorespiration rate (Pr) was calculated as the difference between PN in low-oxygen and normal air, using the equation (Pn2%O2-Pn21%O2)/Pn2%O2 [15] . The PN in low-oxygen air was designated the gross photosynthetic rate (GPN).

2.5. Chlorophyll a Fluorescence Parameters

We measured chlorophyll a fluorescence each hour during the light treatment with a Hand-PEA (Hansatech Instruments Limited, UK). After 20 min of dark adaptation, all sample leaves were immediately exposed to a saturating light pulse (3000 μmol・m−2・s−1) for 2 s. The fluorescence transients in each dark- adapted leaf were analyzed according to the JIP-test using the following parameters: 1) the initial fluorescence (F0); 2) the maximal fluorescence (Fm); 3) the difference between Fm and F0 (Fv); 4) the maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm); 5) the quantum yield of fluorescence dissipation (ΦD0); and 6) the number of active PSII RC per excited cross-section (CSm).

2.6. Statistical Analysis

Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 11.5 (IBM, Chicago, IL, USA). Treatment means were subjected to two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and these values and their significant differences (measured by Duncan’s significance test) are presented in the figures and table. Design of the experiments was completely randomized with six replications.

3. Results

3.1. Photosynthesis

The three types of leaves had different PN values under control light conditions and varied in their responses to the strong light treatment (Figure 1). Under control light, M5 showed the highest PN (22 μmol CO2・m−2・s−1), followed by M1 (18 μmol CO2・m−2・s−1) and T5 (14 μmol CO2・m−2・s−1). Under strong light, all three types of leaves showed a decrease in PN, suggesting the occurrence of photoinhibition in all experimental materials. During the treatment period, PN of M5 declined slowly, by 6.8% in the first hour; M1 decreased more rapidly in the first hour (by 44.4%) and then more slowly. A similar pattern was observed in T5, but PN decreased more sharply (by 60.7%) in the first hour. During treatment, M5 maintained a consistently higher PN than did M1 and T5. These results suggested that C4 leaves (M5) were more tolerant to strong light stress than leaves with an incomplete C4 (M1) and C3 leaves (T5).

3.2. Photorespiration and Gross Photosynthesis

The three types of leaves had different Pr values at the end of the 3-h strong light treatment (Table 1). T5 showed the highest Pr (2.87 μmol CO2・m−2・s−1) and Pr/GPN ratio (43.50%), followed by M1 (2.60 μmol CO2・m−2・s−1, 17.8%) and M5 (0.47 μmol CO2・m−2・s−1, 2.24%). GPN, the sum of PN and Pr, indicates the amount

Figure 1. Changes in net photosynthesis rate (Pn) in leaves with different photosynthetic characteristics during strong light treatments. The sample leaves were subjected to strong light (2000 μmol∙m−2∙s−1) for 3 h. ▲, maize fifth leaves (complete C4 cycle, M5); △, maize first leaves (incomplete C4 cycle, M1); ●, tobacco fifth leaves (C3 cycle, T5). Mean ± SD of six replicates. Bars not seen are smaller than the size of the symbols.

Table 1. Photorespiration rates of leaves with different types of photosynthesis under strong light treatment.

Note: Sample leaves were subjected to strong light (2000 μmol∙m−2∙s−1) for 3 h and measured at the end of the light treatment. Each value in the table represents mean ± SD of six leaves. Maize fifth leaves have a complete C4 cycle (M5), maize first leaves have an incomplete C4 cycle (M1), and tobacco fifth leaves have a C3 cycle (T5). Different letters above each column indicate significant differences at P < 0.01 (measured by Duncan’s significance test). Values are means ± S.D. (n = 6).

of energy consumed via carbon reduction and the oxidation cycle in plants. Similar to the pattern seen with PN, at the end of the treatment, M5 had the highest GPN (20.73 μmol CO2・m−2・s−1), followed by M1 (14.57 μmol CO2・m−2・s−1) and T5 (6.57 μmol CO2・m−2・s−1). Despite the higher Pr and Pr/GPN under strong light stress, GPN in the C3 leaves (T5) and incomplete C4 leaves (M1) was still lower than that in the C4 leaves (M5).

3.3. F0, Fm, and Fv

F0 is measured when the PSII RC are completely open and represents the intrinsic loss of energy transfer from chlorophyll a to the RC in PSII. As shown in Figure 2(a), under control light, M1 showed the highest F0 (251.33), followed by T5 (228.00) and M5 (181.67); all types of leaves experienced a slow decrease in F0 under strong light. This experiment showed that F0 was not very susceptible to strong light stress.

Fm is measured when the RC of PSII are totally closed and represents the maximal amount of energy absorbed by chlorophyll a in PSII. As shown in Figure 2(b), under control light, T5 showed the highest Fm (1355.00), followed by M1 (1116.00) and M5 (795.67). Under strong light, Fm in all types of leaves decreased sharply in the first hour, by 49.77% (to 399.67) in M5, by 63.26% (to 410.00) in M1, and by 55.11% (to 608.25) in T5. The decline then slowed in M5 and M1 but continued rapidly in T5. The data demonstrated that Fm in all three types of leaves was susceptible to strong light stress, but C4 leaves (M5) were less vulnerable than incomplete C4 leaves (M1) and C3 leaves (T5).

Fv is the difference between Fm and F0 and indicates the maximal amount of energy used by PSII photochemical reactions. Generally, the C4 cycle has the highest capacity of excitation energy use among the three types of photosynthetic carbon reduction pathways. In this experiment (Figure 2(c)), under control light, T5 showed the highest Fv (1127.00), followed by M1 (864.67) and M5 (614.00). The pattern was similar to that of Fm under strong light. Fv in all types of leaves decreased sharply in the first hour, to 250.50 (by 59.20%) in M5, to 172.5 (by 80.05%) in M1, and to 186.33 (by 83.47%) in T5, and then more slowly, suggesting that Fv in C4 leaves (M5) was less vulnerable to strong light stress than in incomplete C4 leaves (M1) and C3 leaves (T5). The decline in Fv was mainly caused by changes in Fm.

3.4. Fv/Fm and ΦD0

Fv/Fm describes the efficiency of the PSII photochemical reaction. As shown in Figure 2(d), under control light, the value of Fv/Fm was 0.771 in M5, 0.775 in M1 and 0.832 in T5. Under strong light, Fv/Fm of all sample leaves declined sharply, but less so in M5, which reached its lowest value (0.531) in the second hour, than in M1 and T5, which reached their lowest values (0.221 and 0.173, respectively) in the third hour. Thus, in Fv/Fm, M5 was more tolerant to light stress than M1 and T5. The decline of Fv/Fm in all types of leaves was attributed to the decrease in Fm.

(a) (b) (c) (d)(e) (f)

Figure 2. Changes in basic fluorescence indices in leaves with different photosynthetic characteristics during strong light and dark recovery treatments. (a) Initial fluorescence yield (F0); (b) maximum chlorophyll fluorescence (Fm); (c) difference between Fm and F0 (Fv); (d) maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm); (e) fluorescence dissipation efficiency of light energy absorbed by photosystem II (ΦD0 = F0/Fm); (f) number of active photosystem II reaction centers per excited cross-section (RC/CSm). Sample leaves were subjected to strong light (2000 μmol∙m−2∙s−1) for 3 h and subsequent dark recovery for 3 h. ▲, maize fifth leaves (complete C4 cycle, M5); △, maize first leaves (incomplete C4 cycle, M1); ●, tobacco fifth leaves (C3 cycle, T5). Mean ± SD of six replicates. Bars not seen are smaller than the size of the symbols.

Fluorescence dissipation (ΦD0) is F0/Fm, representing the quantum yield of fluorescence dissipation of absorbed energy by harvesting pigments [16] [17] . An increase in ΦD0 can protect PSII against photodamage. As Figure 2(e) shows, before light treatment, ΦD0 was 0.228 in M5, 0.225 in M1, and 0.168 in T5. Under strong light stress, ΦD0 increased at different scales in the three types of leaves. The ΦD0 of M5, M1, and T5 increased by 107.15%, 245.71% and 391.29%, respectively. The increase under strong light was less sharp in C4 leaves (M5) than in incomplete C4 leaves (M1) and C3 leaves (T5). However, the increases in ΦD0 were caused by a reduction in Fm, not by an increase in F0, because F0 declined under strong light. This result suggested that ΦD0 did not play a role in avoiding excess excitation energy accumulation in PSII under strong light in this experiment.

3.5. RC/CSm

RC/CSm is the number of active PSII RC per excited cross-section, reflecting the inactivation state of PSII RC. The three types of leaves showed different levels of RC/CSm under control light, and all values declined dramatically, but at different scales, under strong light (Figure 2(f)). Under strong light, RC/CSm in M5 decreased from 411.25 to 122.28 (by 62.76%), in M1 from 605.31 to 52.50 (by 77.38%), and in T5 from 803.37 to 29.41 (by 89.34%). The decline of RC/CSm indicated that a number of RC were inactivated by excess excitation energy. In comparison, C4 leaves (M5) had less active RC under control light but maintained more active RC under strong light than the incomplete C4 leaves (M1) and C3 leaves (T5).

4. Discussions

The light energy absorbed by leaves is mainly used to drive the photosynthetic carbon reduction cycle. Therefore, surplus energy is generated if carbon reduction is impeded or if light energy absorbed by leaves exceeds that consumed by carbon reduction. The resulting excess energy will lead to photoinhibition, that is, it impairs the photosynthetic apparatus and reduces the photosynthesis rate [1] . The amount of excess energy is related to photosynthetic efficiency. Under the same light intensity, leaves of C4 plants photosynthesize more efficiently than leaves of C3 plants, which means that more absorbed light energy flows into the carbon cycle and less excess energy is produced [10] . As a result, C4 leaves will be less inhibited by strong light than C3 leaves. In this study, under control light intensity, the C4 leaves (M5) had the highest rate of photosynthesis, followed by leaves with an incomplete C4 cycle (M1) and C3 leaves (T5). Although photoinhibition occurred in all types of leaves under strong light, M5 leaves were more tolerant than M1 and T5 leaves. This result showed that the photosynthetic rate underlies photoinhibition defense in plants.

Photorespiration is a carbon oxidation cycle that consumes light energy like carbon reduction pathways [18] . Increased photorespiration rates have been observed under drought [19] , high temperature [20] , and strong light stress [9] and are regarded as an important mechanism to prevent photoinhibition. In the present study, a decline in photosynthesis occurred in all types of leaves at the end of the light treatment, but the levels of decline in M1 and T5 were greater than in M5, and their photorespiration rates and the ratio of photorespiration to gross photosynthesis were much higher than those in M5. These results suggested that photorespiration played a larger role in photoinhibition defense in M1 and T5 leaves. Although the photorespiration rates increased in M1 and T5 leaves, the total energy consumption via carbon reduction and oxidation did not increase during photoinhibition. The gross photosynthetic rates at the end of light treatment were significantly lower than at the beginning of treatment. This means that the rise in energy consumption owing to photorespiration only partially compensates for the decline caused by photosynthesis. For C4 leaves, although the photorespiration rate is very low, the C4 cycle consumes more energy than the C3 cycle and reduces the energy surplus.

Fv/Fm is the photochemical reaction efficiency of PSII and can be used to describe the state of the PSII RC photodamage [17] . In this experiment, a decline in Fv/Fm occurred in all types of leaves under strong light treatment, but Fm decreased dramatically and F0 reduced slowly. Because Fv is the difference between Fm and F0, the decline in Fv/Fm was caused by the decrease in Fm. Fv/Fm declined less in M5 than in M1 and T5. This means that M5 maintained higher energy flow into the PSII RC under strong light. Given the higher rate of photosynthesis in M5 under light treatment, the energy entering PSII RC would be used to drive carbon reduction or other biochemical reactions. Hence, the dark reaction in M5 photosynthesis made a much larger contribution to avoiding energy surplus than in M1 and T5. Thus, the carbon reduction cycle played a more pivotal role in strong-light tolerance in C4 leaves than in incomplete C4 leaves.

F0/Fm (ΦD0) indicates the ratio of fluorescence dissipation via light-harvesting pigments [16] [17] . However, the rise in F0/Fm is not simply regarded as an increase in energy dissipation and exerting a role in photoprotection, because the ratio will rise when Fm decreases, even if F0 decreases during strong light treatment and thus will not contribute to reducing excess energy. In the present study, both Fm and F0 declined in all three leaf types, and Fm decreased more than F0 under strong light. Consequently, F0/Fm is not suitable to represent energy dissipation via fluorescence release under strong light.

F0 is generated during the process of transferring light energy from the light-harvesting complex IIs to the PSII RC. The variation in F0 under strong light in this experiment was inconsistent with changes under other stress conditions, such as high temperature and salt stress [21] [22] , when F0 usually rises. The decline in F0 under light treatment may be owing to the dramatic decline in Fm, which decreased the energy flow from the light-harvesting complex IIs to PSII RC. The rise in F0 under high temperature and salinity may have resulted from conformational changes in PSII supercomplexes.

The Fm decline under strong light is mainly caused by state transition. In this process, light-harvesting complex IIs dissociate from PSII RC so as to reduce the energy supply to the latter. Therefore, state transition is considered a pivotal mechanism to protect PSII under light stress [23] [24] . Here, we used the decline rate in Fm to estimate the variation in state transition. Among the three types of leaves, T5 showed the highest rate of decline (53.66%) in Fm, followed by M1 (45.97%) and then M5 (22.96%). Hence, we deduced that state transition was more crucial to preventing photodamage to PSII RC in C3 leaves (T5) and incomplete C4 leaves (M1) than in C4 leaves (M5).

In PSII RC, D1 proteins are extremely vulnerable to photooxidative damage [25] . Therefore, the activity of RC is very susceptible to strong light stress. In this experiment, all three leaf types showed a sharp decline in RC/CSm after strong light treatment. The RC/CSm of M5 decreased the least (62.76%), followed by M1 (77.38%) and then T5 (89.34%). We used Fv/RC to analyze the variation in energy flow passing through PSII centers and found that it decreased after treatment by strong light. In control light conditions, Fv/RC in M5, M1, and T5 were 1.493, 1.428, and 1.403, respectively. At the end of light treatment, M5 had the highest Fv/RC (1.330), followed by M1 (1.116) and T5 (0.930). These results showed that RC in incomplete C4 leaves in maize was susceptible to strong light, similar to C3 leaves.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, C4 maize leaves, with a higher rate of photosynthesis, are more tolerant to strong light stress than incomplete C4 leaves, and their PSII RC are less susceptible to intense radiation. In photoprotection, the carbon reduction cycle has an important role in C4 leaves, while state transition is pivotal in incomplete C4 leaves. Further investigation will be required to explain the underlying mechanisms of PSII reaction center susceptibility to strong light in maize incomplete C4 leaves. Interestingly, at present some genus contains both C3, C4 and C3-C4 intermediate species [26] [27] [28] [29] , and some genus changes from C3 to C4 in different environments [30] [31] . The studies of these materials under strong light will provide more direct adaptability differences between C3 and C4 pathway.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Technology Pillar Program of Liaoning Province, China (2015103001), the Natural Science Foundation of China (31000673), the Science and Technology Development of Liaoning Province, China (2014208001), the PhD research startup foundation of Liaoning Province (201501063), the Youth Foundation of Bioscience and Biotechnology College of Shenyang Agricultural University (2015).

Cite this paper

Ruan, Y.Y., Li, X.Y., Wang, Y.P., Jiang, S.Q., Song, B., Guo, Z.Y., Zhang, A., Qi, Q., Zhang, L.J., Fan, J.J., Guan, Y.X., Cui, Z.H. and Zhu, Y.S. (2017) Photoinhibition of Leaves with Different Pho- tosynthetic Carbon Assimilation Characteristics in Maize (Zea mays). American Jour- nal of Plant Sciences, 8, 328-339. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2017.83023

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