Interspecific differences in photosynthetic efficiency and spectral reflectance in two Umbilicaria species from Svalbard during controlled desiccation

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effective photosynthetic quantum yield (FPSII) and the Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI) for assessment of photosynthetic performance of two Umbilicaria lichens during gradual desiccation of their thalli. U. cylindrica andU. decussata exhibited curvilinear relationship (S-shape curve) of decreasing FPSII values with decreasing water potential (WP) of thalli. During initial phase of desiccation (WP from 0 to -10 MPa), no decrease of FPSII was apparent, further desiccation (WP from -10 to -20 MPa) led to fast FPSII decrease from 0.6 to 0.1 indicating strong inhibition of photosynthetic processes. Critical WP at which photosythetic processes are fully inhibited was found bellow -25 MPa in both lichen species. Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI) exhibited curvilinear increase with thalli desiccation (decreasing WP). At full thallus hydration, the PRI reached the value of -0.18 in both species. Under strong dehydration (WP from -20 to -30 MPa), however, U. cylindrica showed somewhat lower value (-0.04) than U.decussata (-0.02 MPa). PRI to WP relationship is discussed and compared to existing evidence from higher plants and poikilohydric organisms.