Compensatory acclimated mechanisms of photoprotection in a Xa mutant of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.

Abstract

To probe the role of xanthophylls in non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and the compensatory acclimated photoprotection mechanisms, a tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Ailsa Craig) Xa mutant with deficit in lutein (L) and neoxanthin (N) contents was used. The Xa mutant showed lowered NPQ, an increased degree of de-epoxidation state [(A+Z)/(V+A+Z)], and decreases of photosystem 2 (PS2) antenna size. Although the Xa mutant had a CO2 assimilation rate similar to that of Ailsa Craig, it exhibited a much larger stomatal conductance (g s) than Ailsa Craig. Decreased electron flux in PS2 (J PS2) for the Xa mutant was associated with electron flux for photorespiratory carbon oxidation (J o) and alternative electron flux in PS2 (J a) while electron flux for photosynthetic carbon reduction (J c) was not different from Ailsa Craig. Moreover, the Xa mutant also exhibited higher activities of antioxidant enzymes, higher contents of ascorbate and glutathione, and lower contents of reactive oxygen species. Hence some compensatory acclimated mechanisms of photoprotection operated properly in the lack of NPQ and xanthophylls. © 2008 Institute of Experimental Botany, ASCR.