Steady state levels of D1 protein and psbA transcript during UV-B inactivation of photosystem II in wheat

Abstract

UV-B induced alterations in the pigment composition and photosystem II (PS II) electron transport activity was studied in laboratory grown seedlings of wheat cv. RR21. Subsequent to UV-B exposure, the chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanin and flavonoids, showed an increase in their levels. A time dependent decrease in the photosystem II electron transport activity was evident in the UV-B treated plants. Reduction in the steady state levels of transcript of the psbA gene and its translation product the D1 protein was concurrent with the loss of PS II activity in the wheat plants exposed to UV-B.