Abstract
Since potentially harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR, 280–400 nm) and high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400–700 nm) are present in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Aqaba where part of the seagrassHalophila stipulacea'spopulation thrives, we examined the effects of high PAR with and without UVR on its photosynthesis and midday chloroplast “clumping phenomenon” (Sharon and Beer 2008). It was found that midday clumping occurred only under high PAR in the presence of UVR, which resulted in a 44% reduction in the absorption cross section (or absorption factor, AF) of the leaves and, accordingly, a parallel lowering of midday electron transport rates (ETR). In addition, UVR had a direct effect on the photosynthetic apparatus by lowering quantum yields and, thus, ETRs, while pigment relations remained unaltered. We conclude that the potentially harmful effects of UVR and high PAR on the photosynthetic apparatus ofHalophila stipulaceaare mitigated by their activation of chloroplast clumping, which functions as a means of protecting most chloroplasts from high irradiances, including UVR.
Highlights
While the mechanisms underlying chloroplast movements in plants have been studied on the intracellular and molecular levels [1, 2] their ecophysiological role(s) is less understood
Since potentially harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR, 280–400 nm) and high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400– 700 nm) are present in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Aqaba where part of the seagrass Halophila stipulacea’s population thrives, we examined the effects of high PAR with and without UVR on its photosynthesis and midday chloroplast “clumping phenomenon” (Sharon and Beer 2008)
It was found that midday clumping occurred only under high PAR in the presence of UVR, which resulted in a 44% reduction in the absorption cross section of the leaves and, a parallel lowering of midday electron transport rates (ETR)
Summary
While the mechanisms underlying chloroplast movements in plants have been studied on the intracellular and molecular levels [1, 2] their ecophysiological role(s) is less understood. These movements are in many plants induced by blue light [3,4,5,6,7,8], but in a few studies it was suggested that ultraviolet (UV), or “near to UV”, wavelengths could trigger chloroplast movements [9, 10]. It was suggested that the chloroplast clumping during midday may have a protective role against high irradiances
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