Activity of the photosynthetic apparatus in dehydrated leaves of a perennial shrub Rosa rubiginosa L. with different levels of drought memory

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus during induced dehydration of leaves harvested from perennial shrubs of Rosa rubiginosa growing at wet and dry sites and differing in the level of drought memory. The markers of drought memory included accumulation of D1 (PsbA) protein, chaperone Cpn60, Rubisco activase (RA), and Rubisco larger subunit (RbcL). The study investigated the levels of soluble carbohydrates and phenolic compounds, of cell wall-bound phenolics, non-enzymatic antioxidants, and assimilation pigments.During induced dehydration, leaves from the dry site exhibited slower water loss and greater activity of the photosynthetic apparatus, particularly in terms of effectiveness of electron transport between PSII and PSI. They also effectively dissipated excessive excitation energy in the form of heat and far-red fluorescence. Higher level of D1 protein in the leaves collected from the dry site was accompanied by lower accumulation of Cpn60, RA and RbcL proteins and considerably higher content of soluble carbohydrates and carotenoids.Drought memory in R. rubiginosa may be associated with a low level of proteins responsible for photosynthetic fixation of CO2 and reduced content of chlorophyll a and b, and also with enhanced accumulation of D1 protein and soluble carbohydrates and carotenoids.