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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 36(12)

Interactive effects of high irradiance and moderate heat on photosynthesis, pigments, and tocopherol in the tree-fern Dicksonia antarctica

Liubov Volkova A C , Michael Tausz A , Lauren T. Bennett A and Erwin Dreyer A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science, Melbourne School of Land and Environment, The University of Melbourne, Water Street, Creswick, Vic. 3363, Australia.

B INRA, Nancy-Université, UMR 1137 ‘Ecologie et Ecophysiologie Forestières’, F-54280 Champenoux, France.

C Corresponding author. Email: l.volkova@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au

Functional Plant Biology 36(12) 1046-1056 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP09098
Submitted: 5 May 2009  Accepted: 31 July 2009   Published: 3 December 2009

Abstract

Effects of high irradiance and moderate heat on photosynthesis of the tree-fern Dicksonia antarctica (Labill., Dicksoniaceae) were examined in a climate chamber under two contrasting irradiance regimes (900 and 170 µmol photons m–2 s–1) and three sequential temperature treatments (15°C; 35°C; back to 15°C). High irradiance led to decline in predawn quantum yield of photochemistry, Fv/Fm (0.73), maximal Rubisco activity (Vcmax; from 37 to 29 µmol m–2s–1), and electron transport capacity (Jmax; from 115 to 67 µmol m–2 s–1). Temperature increase to 35°C resulted in further decreases in Fv/Fm (0.45) and in chlorophyll bleaching of high irradiance plants, while Vcmax and Jmax were not affected. Critical temperature for thylakoid stability (Tc) of D. antarctica was comparable with other higher plants (c. 47°C), and increases of Tc with air temperature were greater in high irradiance plants. Increased Tc was not associated with accumulation of osmotica or zeaxanthin formation. High irradiance increased the xanthophyll cycle pigment pool (V+A+Z, 91 v. 48 mmol mol–1 chlorophyll–1), de-epoxidation state (56% v. 4%), and α-tocopherol. Temperature increase to 35°C had no effect on V+A+Z and de-epoxidation state in both light regimes, while lutein, β-carotene and α-tocopherols increased, potentially contributing to increased membrane stability under high irradiance.

Additional keywords: α-tocopherols, β-carotene, critical temperature, de-epoxidation state, Jmax, light regime, lutein, osmolality, photoinhibition, Vcmax, temperature, xanthophyll pigments.


Acknowledgements

Liubov Volkova acknowledges support by a Melbourne Research Scholarship and by an S.F. Pond Trust Travelling Scholarship for 2006. The work was in part supported by a research contract with the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment and by an internal grant of the University of Melbourne to M Tausz. Thanks to Andrew Merchant for useful hints on the experimental design, to all the kind and helpful staff of INRA Nancy, in particular to Christophe Bailly for ensuring smooth operation of the climate chamber during the experiment, Jean Marie Gioria for growing the tree-ferns, and to Jacqueline Marchand for N quantification in the fronds. Damien L. Callahan, School of Botany, University of Melbourne, is personally thanked for help with operating the HPLC.


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