Effects of ageing on the photosynthetic capacity of the seagrass Zostera marina Linnaeus

• The effect of tissue age and light stress on seagrass productivity was examined on three scale levels by comparisons among: (i) different parts of a leaf (i.e. the base middle and top), (ii) leaves of different ages, and (iii) shoots of different development stages on the same genet, in the temperate species Zostera marina L. Rapid light curves were performed to estimate chlorophyll fluorescence and to determine the maximal photosynthetic rate (ETRmax), the photosynthetic efficiency (the alpha slope) and the maximal quantum yield (both as Fv/Fm and as the more sensible Fv/F0). The plants were also exposed to inhibiting light stress with measurements performed during the following recovery and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). The results suggest that seagrass tissue age has an effect on the photosynthetic performance of the plant and that the level of strength varies among different parts of a single shoot and also among shoots of different development stages along the same genet. Younger and senescing tissues generally had lower photosynthetic capacity than mature tissues. It appeared that very young tissues tolerate light stress better than mature and senescing tissues, as the NPQ values of the very young tissue were higher, and they also showed a lower recovery to initial Fv/F0 values. A clear difference was also found in photosynthetic performance and recovery capacity of the youngest shoot compared to the rest of the shoots belonging to the same genet. The leaves of young shoots appeared to better tolerate light stress than leaves of old shoots. These findings provide new insight on seagrass ageing and expand the understanding of ageing effects on photosynthesis on a population level.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Plant Physiology

växtfysiologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

ovr (ämneskategori)