Temperature-dependent chlorophyll accumulation and photosystem II assembly during etioplast to chloroplast transition in sunflower cotyledons

Abstract

Abstract Despite numerous data dealing with the biogenesis of photosynthetic membranes connected with specific functional alterations in higher plants this is still an insufficiently understood topic and is one of the most promising areas of research in plant biochemistry. The main goal of our study was to detect the impact of different temperatures on chlorophyll biosynthesis and the maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm). Therefore, we investigated the greening processes in etiolated sunflower cotyledons (Helianthus annuus L.) grown at different temperatures (10, 20 and 30 °C) during 24 h. The dynamics of chlorophyll a and b (Chl a and Chl b) accumulation as well as photosystem II (PSII) effi ciency were observed. We also evaluated combined effects of different temperatures (20 and 30 °C) and short-term application of increased irradiation (800 μmol m-2 s-1) on effective quantum yield of PSII (ΔF/F’m) and non photochemical quenching (NPQ) in cotyledons with fully developed PSII. Our results showed reduced chlorophyll accumulation and the arrest of PSII assembly at 10 °C in comparison with 20 and 30 °C. Further, the increased irradiance induced equal down regulation of effective quantum yield of PSII at 20 and 30 °C, with significantly higher capability of heat dissipation at 30 °C.