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The dissipation of excess excitation energy in British plant species
Author(s) -
JOHNSON G. N.,
YOUNG A. J.,
SCHOLES J. D.,
HORTON P.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3040.1993.tb00485.x
Subject(s) - violaxanthin , antheraxanthin , xanthophyll , zeaxanthin , quenching (fluorescence) , chlorophyll fluorescence , photosynthesis , non photochemical quenching , photochemistry , chlorophyll , chemistry , botany , photosynthetic capacity , carotenoid , fluorescence , biology , lutein , physics , optics
The reversible dissipation of excitation energy in higher plants is believed to protect against light‐induced damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. This dissipation is measured as the non‐photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. A method is described whereby the saturated capacity for rapidly reversible non‐photochemical quenching can be compared between plant species. This method was applied to 22 common British plant species whose habitat was quantified using an index that describes shade tolerance. An association was found between occurrence in open habitats and a high capacity for non‐photochemical quenching. It was found that, whilst this capacity was species dependent, it did not depend upon the conditions under which the plant was grown. The possible role of zeaxanthin as a determinant of quenching capacity was examined by measuring the contents of xanthophyll cycle carotenoids for each species. Comparing species, no correlation was seen between the saturated level of non‐photochemical quenching and zeaxanthin content expressed relative to either total carotenoid or to chlorophyll. When zeaxanthin was expressed relative to the amount of xanthophyll cycle intermediates (zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin and violaxanthin), a weak correlation was seen.