Variable Light Environments Research Articles

Convergent evolution of super black plumage near bright color in 15 bird families.

We examined extremely low-reflectance, velvety black plumage patches in 32 bird species from 15 families and five orders and compared them with 22 closely related control species with normal black plumage. We used scanning electron microscopy to investigate microscopic feather anatomy, and applied spectrophotometry and hyperspectral imaging to measure plumage reflectance. Super black plumages are significantly darker and have more broadband low reflectance than normal black plumages, and they have evolved convergently in 15 avian families. Super black feather barbules quantitatively differ in microstructure from normal black feathers. Microstructural variation is significantly correlated with reflectance: tightly packed, strap-shaped barbules have lower reflectance. We assigned these super black feathers to five heuristic classes of microstructure, each of which has evolved multiple times independently. All classes have minimal exposed horizontal surface area and 3D micrometer-scale cavities greater in width and depth than wavelengths of light. In many species, barbule morphology varied between the super black exposed tip of a feather and its (i) concealed base or (ii) iridescently colored spot. We propose that super black plumages reduce reflectance, and flatten reflectance spectra, through multiple light scattering between the vertically oriented surfaces of microscale cavities, contributing to near-complete absorption of light by melanin. All super black plumage patches identified occur adjacent to brilliant colored patches. Super black plumage lacks all white specular reflections (reference points used to calibrate color perception), thus exaggerating the perceived brightness of nearby colors. We hypothesize that this sensory bias is an unavoidable by-product of color correction in variable light environments.

K+ and Cl\u2212 channels/transporters independently fine-tune photosynthesis in plants

In variable light environments, plants adjust light use in photosynthetic electron transport and photoprotective dissipation in the thylakoid membrane. In this respect, roles of the K+/H+ antiporter KEA3, the Cl− channel/transporter CLCe and the voltage-dependent Cl− channel VCCN1 have been unraveled in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here we report that they independently adjust photosynthesis on the basis of analyses using single and higher order loss-of-function mutants. In short experiments of photosynthetic response on transition from dark to low light, we reveal a sequential functioning of VCCN1 and CLCe in the activation of photoprotection and of KEA3 in its downregulation to a low steady state while adjusting the electron transport. On transition from low to high light, VCCN1 accelerates the activation of photoprotection, whereas KEA3 slows it down on transition from high to low light. Based on parallel electrochromic band shift measurements, the mechanism behind is that VCCN1 builds up a pH gradient across the thylakoid membrane, whereas KEA3 dissipates this gradient, which affects photoprotection. CLCe regulates photosynthesis by a pH-independent mechanism likely involving Cl− homeostasis. Nevertheless, all genotypes grow well in alternating high and low light. Taken together, the three studied ion channels/transporters function independently in adjusting photosynthesis to the light environment.

Roles of CpcF and CpcG1 in Peroxiredoxin-Mediated Oxidative Stress Responses and Cellular Fitness in the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

As a component of the photosynthetic apparatus in cyanobacteria, the phycobilisome (PBS) plays an important role in harvesting and transferring light energy to the core photosynthetic reaction centers. The size, composition (phycobiliprotein and chromophore), and assembly of PBSs can be dynamic to cope with tuning photosynthesis and associated cellular fitness in variable light environments. Here, we explore the role of PBS-related stress responses by analyzing deletion mutants of cpcF or cpcG1 genes in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The cpcF gene encodes a lyase that links the phycocyanobilin (PCB) chromophore to the alpha subunit of phycocyanin (PC), a central phycobiliprotein (PBP) in PBSs. Deletion of cpcF (i.e., ΔcpcF strain) resulted in slow growth, reduced greening, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, together with an elevated accumulation of a stress-related Peroxiredoxin protein (Sll1621). Additionally, ΔcpcF exhibited reduced sensitivity to a photosynthesis-related stress inducer, methyl viologen (MV), which disrupts electron transfer. The cpcG1 gene encodes a linker protein that serves to connect PC to the core PBP allophycocyanin. A deletion mutant of cpcG1 (i.e.,ΔcpcG1) exhibited delayed growth, a defect in pigmentation, reduced accumulation of ROS, and insensitivity to MV treatment. By comparison, ΔcpcF and ΔcpcG1 exhibited similarity in growth, pigmentation, and stress responses; yet, these strains showed distinct phenotypes for ROS accumulation, sensitivity to MV and Sll1621 accumulation. Our data emphasize an importance of the regulation of PBS structure in ROS-mediated stress responses that impact successful growth and development in cyanobacteria.

Light exposure affects fruit quality in different strawberry cultivars under field conditions

Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) fruits are highly appreciated worldwide because of their flavour and their content on healthy-related compounds. Most of these compounds have antioxidant properties and photo-protective activities involved in plant response against environmental constrains, including light availability. Thus, fruit quality might be affected by variation in environmental factors such as light conditions. A field experiment, performed under conventional cropping conditions, was designed for assessing the effects of the light exposure level of fruits on fruit quality parameters in four strawberry cultivars (‘Sabrina’, ‘Fortuna’, ‘Splendor’ and ‘Primoris’) during a cropping season. To assess to what extent strawberry genotypes are able to modulate their fruit quality traits in response to light conditions, a plasticity index was calculated for a quantitative estimation of the amount of phenotypic change induced by the environment (i.e. light-exposure) on the different strawberry cultivars.Results showed that proportion of exposed fruits compared to non-exposed ones was similar in all cultivars despite their differences in canopy size. This was achieved by modulating peduncle length: the higher the canopy size, the higher the peduncle length. This work also demonstrates that light incidence influences strawberry fruit quality - flavour and antioxidant content- and that the responsiveness to light conditions, estimated by the plasticity index, of strawberry fruits is genotype dependent. These results are suggesting differences among cultivars in the ability of adapting to variable light environments, and their significance in a breeding context and from an applied point of view is discussed.

Physiological response of the toxic and non-toxic strains of a bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa to changing ultraviolet radiation regimes

Microcystis aeruginosa, a common bloom-forming cyanobacterium with both non-toxic and toxic strains, experiences a variable light environment due to buoyancy regulation and the variable mixing of the water columns. However, little is known on how non-toxic and toxic strains respond to changing photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Here, the non-toxic and toxic strains of M. aeruginosa were exposed to simulated solar radiation for 6 h, and their physiological changes were investigated at different irradiance levels of UVR (295–400 nm) in combination with PAR (400–700 nm). Our results showed that UVR at each level resulted in a larger inhibition on the maximum photochemical yield of Photosystem II (PSII) in the toxic strain. The non-toxic strain showed a quicker rise in the non-photochemical quenching when PAR + UVR were below 40.8 + 5.0 W m−2 and higher exopolysaccharide content at each radiation level, while the toxic strain exhibited stronger recovery capacity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity compared with the non-toxic strain, particularly for cells treated in the presence of UVR. In addition, UVR induced much higher content of microcystin in the toxic strain with the increase of irradiance levels, but decreased it when UVR was higher than 7.3 W m−2. Although UVR led to growth inhibition in both strains, the toxic strain showed much higher specific growth rate under UVR in comparison with the non-toxic strain. Our results indicate that the toxic strain has a competitive advantage relative to the non-toxic strain in a changing light environment with increase of UVR and PAR via stronger antioxidant capacity (higher SOD activity and the synthesis of microcystin) and quicker PSII recovery capacity.

Colours and colour vision in reef fishes: Past, present and future research directions.

Many fishes, both freshwater or marine, have colour vision that may outperform humans. As a result, to understand the behavioural tasks that vision enables; including mate choice, feeding, agonistic behaviour and camouflage, we need to see the world through a fish's eye. This includes quantifying the variable light environment underwater and its various influences on vision. As well as rapid loss of light with depth, light attenuation underwater limits visual interaction to metres at most and in many instances, less than a metre. We also need to characterize visual sensitivities, fish colours and behaviours relative to both these factors. An increasingly large set of techniques over the past few years, including improved photography, submersible spectrophotometers and genetic sequencing, have taken us from intelligent guesswork to something closer to sensible hypotheses. This contribution to the special edition on the Ecology of Fish Senses under a shifting environment first reviews our knowledge of fish colour vision and visual ecology, past, present and very recent, and then goes on to examine how climate change may impinge on fish visual capability. The review is limited to mostly colour vision and to mostly reef fishes. This ignores a large body of work, both from other marine environments and freshwater systems, but the reef contains examples of many of the challenges to vision from the aquatic environment. It is also a concentrate of life, perhaps the most specious and complex on earth, suffering now catastrophically from the consequences of our lack of action on climate change. A clear course of action to prevent destruction of this habitat is the need to spend more time in it, in the study of it and sharing it with those not fortunate enough to see coral reefs first-hand. Sir David Attenborough on The Great Barrier Reef: "Do we really care so little about the Earth upon which we live that we don't wish to protect one of its greatest wonders from the consequences of our behaviours?"

Photoacclimation strategies in northeastern Atlantic seagrasses: Integrating responses across plant organizational levels

Seagrasses live in highly variable light environments and adjust to these variations by expressing acclimatory responses at different plant organizational levels (meadow, shoot, leaf and chloroplast level). Yet, comparative studies, to identify species’ strategies, and integration of the relative importance of photoacclimatory adjustments at different levels are still missing. The variation in photoacclimatory responses at the chloroplast and leaf level were studied along individual leaves of Cymodocea nodosa, Zostera marina and Z. noltei, including measurements of variable chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthesis, photoprotective capacities, non-photochemical quenching and D1-protein repair, and assessments of variation in leaf anatomy and chloroplast distribution. Our results show that the slower-growing C. nodosa expressed rather limited physiological and biochemical adjustments in response to light availability, while both species of faster-growing Zostera showed high variability along the leaves. In contrast, the inverse pattern was found for leaf anatomical adjustments in response to light availability, which were more pronounced in C. nodosa. This integrative plant organizational level approach shows that seagrasses differ in their photoacclimatory strategies and that these are linked to the species’ life history strategies, information that will be critical for predicting the responses of seagrasses to disturbances and to accordingly develop adequate management strategies.

Effects of variability in daily light integrals on the photophysiology of the corals Pachyseris speciosa and Acropora millepora.

Phototrophic sessile organisms, such as reef corals, adjust their photosynthetic apparatus to optimize the balance of light capture versus protection in response to variable light availability (photoacclimation). In shallow marine environments, daily light integrals (DLI) can vary several-fold in response to water clarity and clouds. This laboratory study investigated the responses of two coral species to fluctuations in DLI. Corals were exposed to four contrasting DLI treatments: ‘high-light’ (potentially photoinhibiting conditions, 32 mol photons m-2 d-1), ‘low-light’ (potentially light-limiting conditions, 6 mol photons m-2 d-1), and two ‘variable light’ treatments that alternated between high and low conditions every 5 days. In the variable treatments, the shade-tolerant coral Pachyseris speciosa displayed cycles of rapid declines in maximum quantum yield during high-light and subsequent recoveries during low-light, showing photoacclimation at a time scale of 3–5 days. In contrast, the shallow-water coral Acropora millepora showed slow (>20 days) photoacclimation, and minimal changes in photosynthetic yields despite contrasting light exposure. However, growth (change in buoyant weight) in A. millepora was significantly slower under variable light, and even more so under low-light conditions, compared with high-light conditions. The responses of yields in P. speciosa match their preference for low-light environments, but suggest a vulnerability to even short periods of high-light exposure. In contrast, A. millepora had better tolerance of high-light conditions, however its slow photoacclimatory responses limit its growth under low and variable conditions. The study shows contrasting photoacclimatory responses in variable light environments, which is important to identify and understand as many coastal and midshelf reefs are becoming increasingly more turbid, and may experience higher variability in light availability.

Combined effects of ocean acidification and warming on physiological response of the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana to light challenges

Diatoms are one of the most important groups of phytoplankton in terms of abundance and ecological functionality in the ocean. They usually dominate the phytoplankton communities in coastal waters and experience frequent and large fluctuations in light. In order to evaluate the combined effects of ocean warming and acidification on the diatom's exploitation of variable light environments, we grew a globally abundant diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana under two levels of temperature (18, 24 °C) and pCO2 (400, 1000 μatm) to examine its physiological performance after light challenge. It showed that the higher temperature increased the photoinactivation rate in T. pseudonana at 400 μatm pCO2, while the higher pCO2 alleviated the negative effect of the higher temperature on PSII photoinactivation. Higher pCO2 stimulated much faster PsbA removal, but it still lagged behind the photoinactivation of PSII under high light. Although the sustained phase of nonphotochemical quenching (NPQs) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were provoked during the high light exposure in T. pseudonana under the combined pCO2 and temperature conditions, it could not offset the damage caused by these multiple environmental changes, leading to decreased maximum photochemical yield.

Global warming interacts with ocean acidification to alter PSII function and protection in the diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii

Diatoms, as important contributors to aquatic primary production, are critical to the global carbon cycle. They tend to dominate phytoplankton communities experiencing rapid changes of underwater light. However, little is known regarding how climate change impacts diatoms’ capacity in coping with variable light environments. Here we grew a globally abundant diatom T. weissflogii, under two levels of temperature (18, 24°C) and pCO2 (400, 1000μatm), and then treated it with a light challenge to understand the combined effects of ocean warming and acidification on its exploitation of variable light environments. The higher temperature increased the photoinactivation rate at 400μatm pCO2 and the higher pCO2 alleviated the negative effect of the higher temperature on PSII photoinactivation. Temperature did not affect the PsbA removal rate, but higher pCO2 stimulated PsbA removal. Photoinactivation outran repair, leading to decreased maximum photochemical yield in PSII. The higher pCO2 induced high sustained phase of nonphotochemical quenching when cells were less photoinhibited. The high light exposure induced the activity of both superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and the higher temperature stimulated them further, with insignificant effect of pCO2. Our findings suggest that ocean warming, ocean acidification and high light exposure would interact on PSII function and protection, and combination of these three environmental factors would lead to a reduced PSII activity in T. weissflogii. This study provides helpful insight into how climate change variables combined with local stressor impact diatoms’ photosynthetic physiology.

Stromatolite records of environmental change in perennially ice-covered Lake Joyce, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Calcite-rich columnar stromatolites grew in perennially ice-covered Lake Joyce in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, during a period of environmental change associated with rising lake level. Stromatolite calcite contains carbon and oxygen isotope records of changes to microbial activity in response to variable light environments and water chemistry through time. The stromatolites grew synchronously with correlative calcite zones. The innermost (oldest) calcite zone has a wide range of δ13Ccalcite values consistent with variable photosynthetic effects on local DIC 13C/12C. Subsequent calcite zones preserve a progressive enrichment in δ13Ccalcite values of approximately + 2.6‰ through time, with δ13Ccalcite values becoming less variable. This enrichment likely records the removal of 12C by photosynthesis from the DIC reservoir over decades, with photosynthetic effects decreasing as light levels became lower and more consistent through time. Mean δ18Ocalcite values of the innermost calcified zone were at least 1‰ lower than those of the other calcified zones (t test p-level < 0.001). The significant difference in δ18Ocalcite values between the innermost and other calcified zones could be a product of mixing source waters with different isotopic values associated with the initiation of lake stratification associated with rising lake level. Overall, Lake Joyce stromatolites record significant lateral variability in relative photosynthetic rate and long-lived lake water stratification with microbial modification of the DIC pool. Such processes provide criteria for interpreting microbial activity within polar paleolake deposits and may shed light on variability in lake environments associated with changing climate in the McMurdo Dry Valleys.

Intermediate C3-CAM metabolism in Bulbophyllum involutum: A species with limited leaf morphological variation in relation to light

Bulbophyllum involutum (Ochidaceae) grow in areas with outcrops and high light heterogeneity. We considered that this intermediate C3-CAM species should have more expressive CAM metabolism, and leaf succulence (mainly in tissues/structures related to water storage or economy) in individuals that have grown exposed to high light intensities. Here, we investigated (1) if the leaves of B. involutum undergo significant morphological and anatomical changes when growing under different light regimes; (2) which leaf structural features were most influenced by different light levels; and (3) what is the interplay between such variation and the photosynthetic metabolism, and its relation to the ecophysiology of B. involutum. For that, the plants were selected along a transect (across the outcrop) into three classes according to the light condition under which they grown: sun (receiving above 35molm−2day−1 of photosynthetically active radiation [PAR]); partially shaded (between 14 and 23molm−2day−1 of PAR); and shaded (less than 8molm−2day−1 of PAR). The leaves of plants growing in direct sunlight were smaller, thicker and showed high leaf specific mass. The dry mass of leaf per unit area increased during the dry season, indicating that some carbohydrates play important role in the acid metabolism (PEP synthesis). They could help to reduce cell water potential in leaves, facilitating water flux and the maintenance of leaf succulence throughout the year. The leaf succulence increases the possibility of organic acid storage during the night by the C3-CAM photosynthetic pathway. The low flexibility of C3-CAM metabolism in B. involutum leaves didn't show high expression of CAM in dry season, but seems to be helpful to these plants' establishment at variable light environments.

An update on the regulation of photosynthesis by thylakoid ion channels and transporters in Arabidopsis.

In natural, variable environments, plants rapidly adjust photosynthesis for optimal balance between light absorption and utilization. There is increasing evidence suggesting that ion fluxes across the chloroplast thylakoid membrane play an important role in this regulation by affecting the proton motive force and consequently photosynthesis and thylakoid membrane ultrastructure. This article presents an update on the thylakoid ion channels and transporters characterized in Arabidopsis thaliana as being involved in these processes, as well as an outlook at the evolutionary conservation of their functions in other photosynthetic organisms. This is a contribution to shed light on the thylakoid network of ion fluxes and how they help plants to adjust photosynthesis in variable light environments.

Fine-tuning light sensitivity in the starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) retina: Regional variation in photoreceptor cell morphology and opsin gene expression.

Vertebrate color vision relies on the differential expression of visual pigment proteins (opsins) in cone photoreceptors of the retina. The diversity of opsins and their retinal expression patterns appear greatest for animals that experience variable light habitats, as is the case with flatfishes. Yet, opsin repertoires and expression patterns in this group of fishes are poorly described. Here, we unveil the visual opsin expression patterns of juvenile starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) and describe the localization of cone types, their visual pigments and opsin expression. Juvenile starry flounder express eight opsins (Rh1, Sws1, Sws2A1, Sws2A2, Sws2B, Rh2A1, Rh2A2, Lws) and possess a corresponding number of photoreceptor visual pigments, with peak absorbance ranging from 369 to 557 nm. Retinal (vitamin A1) was the only chromophore detected in the retina. Intraretinal variation in opsin abundance consisted of greater expression of both RH2, and lesser expression of SWS1 and both SWS2A, opsin transcripts in the dorsal compared to the ventral retina. Overall cone density was greater in the dorsal retina which was also characterized by a larger proportion of unequal double cones compared with the ventral retina. Together, our results suggest that large opsin repertoires serve to optimize visual function under variable light environments by differential expression of opsin subsets with retinal location.

Early life conditions and precipitation influence the performance of widespread understorey herbs in variable light environments

Summary The understorey of tropical forests is heterogeneous across time, and plants that inhabit this layer may exhibit adaptations (e.g. trait plasticity) that enable them to exploit this variability to their advantage. We tested the hypothesis that two widespread understorey herbs would perform equally well in a variable as in a constant environment, using a 2‐year shade‐house experiment. We measured demographic traits (growth and survival), a physiological trait (maximum photosynthetic capacity), and life‐history traits (leaf life span and biomass allocation) of Heliconia tortuosa and Calathea crotalifera. We investigated how these traits were affected by light availability at the seedling stage, precipitation, and whether individuals experienced a constant or variable light environment. Whether or not a variable environment was favourable for plants depended upon precipitation and the environment in which individuals started life. At low precipitation, plants in a variable light environment grew more than those in a constant environment, but only when individuals had lived as seedlings in low light. At high precipitation, plants in a constant environment grew more than those in a variable environment, regardless of early conditions. Survival was lower in a variable environment at low precipitation, and more so at high precipitation. Photosynthetic capacity was lower for individuals in a variable environment than in a constant environment when they had lived in high light as seedlings. Calathea grew faster and survived more poorly than Heliconia, independently of the treatments. Calathea grew more at high than low precipitation while Heliconia grew more at low than high precipitation. Leaf life span and biomass allocation did not differ among treatments, although Calathea had a significantly greater proportion of its biomass above‐ground vs. that of Heliconia. Synthesis. Environmental variability had a neutral or positive effect on biomass allocation, photosynthetic capacity, and leaf life span for these species. Survival was the only trait that was always lower in a variable environment. The effect of environmental variability was dependent on early life conditions as well as precipitation, suggesting that generalist species may experience high fitness as forest environments become more variable by maintaining high growth at the expense of survival.

The inhibition of photosynthesis under water deficit conditions is more severe in flecked than uniform irradiance in rice (Oryza sativa) plants

Water deficit is considered the major environmental factor limiting leaf photosynthesis, and the physiological basis for decreased photosynthesis under water deficit has been intensively studied with steady irradiance. Leaves within a canopy experience a highly variable light environment in magnitude and time, but the effect of water deficit on photosynthesis in fluctuating irradiance is not well understood. Two rice cultivars with different drought tolerance, Champa and Yangliangyou 6 (YLY6), were hydroponically grown under well-watered, 15% (m/v) and 20% PEG (polyethylene glycol, 6000Da) induced water deficit conditions. The inhibition of steady-state photosynthesis in Champa is more severe than YLY6. The maximum Rubisco carboxylation capacity (Vcmax) and maximum electron transport capacity (Jmax) were decreased under 20% PEG treatment in Champa, whereas less or no effect was observed in YLY6. The induction state (IS%, which indicates photosynthesis capacity after exposure of low-light period) of both leaf photosynthetic rate (A) and stomatal conductance (gs) was highly correlated, and was significantly decreased under water deficit conditions in both cultivars. Water deficit had no significant effect on the time required to reach 50 or 90% of the maximum photosynthetic rate (T50%,A and T90%,A) after exposure to high-light level, but significantly led to a greater decrease in photosynthetic rate in the low-light period under flecked irradiance (Amin-fleck) relative to photosynthetic rate in the same light intensity of continuously low-light period (Ainitial). The lower IS% of A and more severe decrease in Amin-fleck relative to Ainitial will lead to a more severe decrease in integrated CO2 fixation under water deficit in flecked compared with uniform irradiance.

Photoprotective and antioxidant responses to light spectrum and intensity variations in the coastal diatom Skeletonema marinoi.

Photosynthesis is known to produce reactive oxygen species together with the transformation of light into biochemical energy. To fill the gap of the knowledge on the protective antioxidant network of microalgae, a series of experiments to explore the role of spectral composition and intensity of light in the modulation of the photodefence mechanisms developed by the coastal diatom Skeletonema marinoi were performed. The modulation of the total phenolic content, ascorbic acid and the enzymes glutathione reductase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase together with xanthophyll cycle and non-photochemical quenching in response to variations in the light environment were analysed. Most of the enzymes' activity was promptly affected by the red light. Yet, the monochromatic high intensity blue light enhanced the synthesis of total phenolic content and ascorbic acid in parallel to the xanthophyll cycle activity. This study reveals the dual effects of spectral composition and intensity of light on the modulation of photoprotective mechanisms. Diatoms developed a complementary and/or alternative tuning processes to cope with the variable light environment they experience in the water column. They also provided valuable insights into light manipulation regimes for diatom cultivation that will help to maximize production of bioactive molecules.

A voltage-dependent chloride channel fine-tunes photosynthesis in plants.

In natural habitats, plants frequently experience rapid changes in the intensity of sunlight. To cope with these changes and maximize growth, plants adjust photosynthetic light utilization in electron transport and photoprotective mechanisms. This involves a proton motive force (PMF) across the thylakoid membrane, postulated to be affected by unknown anion (Cl−) channels. Here we report that a bestrophin-like protein from Arabidopsis thaliana functions as a voltage-dependent Cl− channel in electrophysiological experiments. AtVCCN1 localizes to the thylakoid membrane, and fine-tunes PMF by anion influx into the lumen during illumination, adjusting electron transport and the photoprotective mechanisms. The activity of AtVCCN1 accelerates the activation of photoprotective mechanisms on sudden shifts to high light. Our results reveal that AtVCCN1, a member of a conserved anion channel family, acts as an early component in the rapid adjustment of photosynthesis in variable light environments.

Investigating the European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) leaf characteristics along the vertical canopy profile: leaf structure, photosynthetic capacity, light energy dissipation and photoprotection mechanisms.

Forest functionality and productivity are directly related to canopy light interception and can be affected by potential damage from high irradiance. However, the mechanisms by which leaves adapt to the variable light environments along the multilayer canopy profile are still poorly known. We explored the leaf morphophysiological and metabolic responses to the natural light gradient in a pure European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest at three different canopy heights (top, middle and bottom). Structural adjustment through light-dependent modifications in leaf mass per area was the reason for most of the variations in photosynthetic capacity. The different leaf morphology along the canopy influenced nitrogen (N) partitioning, water- and photosynthetic N-use efficiency, chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence and quali-quantitative contents of photosynthetic pigments. The Chl a to Chl b ratio and the pool of xanthophyll-cycle pigments (VAZ) increased at the highest irradiance, as well as lutein and β-carotene. The total pool of ascorbate and phenols was higher in leaves of the top and middle canopy layers when compared with the bottom layer, where the ascorbate peroxidase was relatively more activated. The non-photochemical quenching was strongly and positively related to the VAZ/(Chl a + b) ratio, while Chl a/Chl b was related to the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II. Along the multilayer canopy profile, the high energy dissipation capacity of leaves was correlated to an elevated redox potential of antioxidants. The middle layer gave the most relevant contribution to leaf area index and carboxylation capacity of the canopy. In conclusion, a complex interplay among structural, physiological and biochemical traits drives the dynamic leaf acclimation to the natural gradients of variable light environments along the tree canopy profile. The relevant differences observed in leaf traits within the canopy positions of the beech forest should be considered for improving estimation of carbon fluxes in multilayer canopy models of temperate forests.

Light-Mediated Hormonal Regulation of Plant Growth and Development.

Light is crucial for plant life, and perception of the light environment dictates plant growth, morphology, and developmental changes. Such adjustments in growth and development in response to light conditions are often established through changes in hormone levels and signaling. This review discusses examples of light-regulated processes throughout a plant's life cycle for which it is known how light signals lead to hormonal regulation. Light acts as an important developmental switch in germination, photomorphogenesis, and transition to flowering, and light cues are essential to ensure light capture through architectural changes during phototropism and the shade avoidance response. In describing well-established links between light perception and hormonal changes, we aim to give insight into the mechanisms that enable plants to thrive in variable light environments.