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Comparison of thermostability of PSII between the chromatic and green leaf cultivars of Amaranthus tricolor L.

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

In the present study, we investigated the antioxidative potential in leaves of the chromatic (CC) versus green (GC) Amaranthus tricolor L. under moderate high-temperature stress at 45°C. Before heat stress, CC had significantly higher levels of betacyanins [about 3.2 mg g−1(FM)] than the green [1.8 mg g−1(FM) (p<0.01), while similar chlorophyll (Chl) content [about 2 mg g−1(FM)] was observed between both cultivars. After exposure to high temperature (45°C) for 6 days, betacyanins in leaves of CC were remarkably increased (about 2 times of that in control samples grown at 30°C). In contrast, betacyanins in GC significantly decreased by 56% in comparison with that of the control. Chl level in CC was higher than that in GC after heat stress for 6 days. Flavonoids and total phenolics in both cultivars were increased, but much more in CC. Significantly less H2O2 accumulation was observed in the leaves and stems of CC than in those of GC under heat stress. Interestingly, much stronger circadian oscillation in fluorescence was observed in both cultivars after treatment at 45°C, which suggested that heat stress stimulates endogenous rhythms of photosystem II (PSII). Under moderate high-temperature stress, Chl fluorescence parameters Fv/Fm (maximum quantum yield of PSII), qP (coefficient of photochemical quenching), ΦPSII (effective PSII quantum yield), and ETR (electron transport rate) exhibited a gradual decrease, NPQ (nonphotochemical quenching) showed a slight increase followed by a gradual decline, whereas Fo (minimum fluorescence of a dark-adapted leaf) increased continuously. In contrast to GC, after 120 h of high-temperature treatment, CC exhibited significantly lower Fo level, and higher levels of Fv/Fm and NPQ. It is clear that PSII in CC was more stable than that in GC. The results indicate that betacyanins are an effective antioxidant, and probably contribute greatly to the higher thermal stability of PSII and higher tolerance to heat stress.

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Abbreviations

CC:

chromatic cultivar

ETR:

electron transport rate

Fo :

minimum fluorescence of a dark-adapted leaf

Fm :

maximal fluorescence yield of a dark-adapted leaf

Fv/Fm :

maximum quantum yield of PSII

FM:

fresh mass

GC:

green cultivar

MeOH:

methanol

NPQ:

nonphotochemical quenching

PAL:

phenylalanine ammonia-lyase

PSII:

photosystem II

qP :

coefficient of photochemical quenching

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

ΦPSII :

effective PSII quantum yield

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Acknowledgements

We thank Professor Fred Chow (Research School of Biology, the Australian National University) for critical reading of the manuscript and helpful suggestions. This research is financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (30770173, 30870385), The State Key Basic Research and Development Plan of China (973 Program; 2009CB118504).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Science in Guangdong Higher Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China

    Z. Shu, X. -Q. Zeng & C. -L. Peng

  2. Department of Biology, Zhao Qing University, Zhaoqing, 526061, China

    L. Shao

  3. South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China

    Z. -F. Lin

  4. Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China

    Z. Shu & G. -Y. Chen

  5. Department of Chemistry and Life science, Xiangnan College, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, China

    H. -Y. Huang

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  1. Z. Shu
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Correspondence to C. -L. Peng.

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These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Shu, Z., Shao, L., Huang, H.Y. et al. Comparison of thermostability of PSII between the chromatic and green leaf cultivars of Amaranthus tricolor L.. Photosynthetica 47, 548–558 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-009-0080-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-009-0080-x

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