Photosynthetic Acclimation of Silene Dioica to Growth in Fluctuating Light

Abstract

The light environment of plants varies in intensity over time. Many plants have the ability to optimise their photosynthetic apparatus and balance light capture and use (1, 2). Although many investigations have examined the effects of discrete step changes in conditions, few studies have focused on acclimation of higher plants, at physiological and biochemical levels, to fluctuating light conditions. Little is known about how plants optimise their photosynthetic apparatus to light environments which change continuously and what parameters determine the acclimation to changes in light environment. In this communication, we present the results of a study into the acclimative responses of the plant Silene dioica, a plant native to woodlands and hedgerows, to different continuously fluctuating light environments. The implications of these results for understanding of the possible mechanism in which acclimative responses of S. dioica to changes in light may be involved are discussed.