Analysis of the relationship between blue-light photon flux density and the photosynthetic properties of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaves with regard to the acclimation of photosynthesis to growth irradiance

Abstract

Blue light has been suggested to participate in the acclimation of photosynthesis to growth irradiance. We analyzed the effects of blue light intensity on the photosynthetic properties of leaves with regard to acclimation to irradiance. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) plants were grown under mixtures of blue and red light with blue-light photon flux densities (PFDs) of 0, 30, 100 and 150 µmol m−2 s−1 at a total photosynthetic PFD of 300 µmol m−2 s−1. The light-saturated rate of photosynthesis under white light, leaf N content per unit leaf area, leaf dry weight per unit leaf area and the ratio of cytochrome (Cyt) f content to light-harvesting chlorophyll-binding protein of photosystem II (LHCII) content were evaluated. The photosynthetic rate tended to increase with increasing blue-light PFD up to 100 µmol m−2 s−1, and this was associated with an increase in leaf N content per unit leaf area. However, the increase in leaf N content per unit leaf area did not necessarily result from an increase in leaf dry weight per unit leaf area. The Cyt f to LHCII content ratio increased linearly with increasing blue-light PFD up to 100 µmol m−2 s−1, indicating that plants grown under higher blue-light PFD up to this value resembled plants grown under higher irradiance in terms of N partitioning between electron-transport components and light-harvesting components. This result suggests that the level of blue light is involved only in the acclimation to relatively low growth irradiances at the chloroplast level.