Abstract
Changes in the carotenoid composition of leaves in response to diurnal changes in sunlight were determined in the crop species Helianthus annuus L. (sunflower), Cucurbita pepo L. (pumpkin), and Cucumls sativus L. (cucumber), in the diaheliotropic mesophyte Malva neglecta Wallr., and in the perennial shrub Euonymus kiautschovicus Loesner. Large daily changes were observed in the relative proportions of the components of the xanthophyll cycle, violaxanthin (V), antheraxanthin (A), and zeaxanthin (Z) in plants grown in full sunlight. In all leaves large amounts of Z were formed at peak irradiance, with the changes in Z content closely following changes in incident photon flux density (PFD) over the course of the day. All leaves also contained large total pools of the three xanthophyll-cycle components. However, the extent to which the V pool present at dawn became de-epoxidized during the day varied widely among leaves, from a 27% decrease in M. neglecta to a 90% decrease in E. kiautschovicus. The largest amounts of Z and the lowest amounts of V at peak irradiance (full sunlight) were observed in the species with the lower rates of photosynthesis (particularly in E. kiautschovicus and pumpkin), and smaller amounts of Z and a lesser decrease in V content were found at peak irradiance in those species with the higher rates of photosynthesis (particularly in M. neglecta and sunflower). In all species some Z was present in the leaves prior to sunrise. Furthermore, in individuals of sunflower, pumpkin, and cucumber grown at 85% of full sunlight and transferred to full sunlight, a further increase in the already large pool of the xanthophyll-cycle pigments occurred over the course of 1 d.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- A:
-
antheraxanthin
- α-Car, β-Car:
-
α- and β-carotene
- EPS:
-
epoxidation state
- PFD:
-
photon flux density, between 400 and 700 nm
- V:
-
violaxanthin
- Z:
-
zeaxanthin
References
Adams, W.W., III (1988) Photosynthetic acclimation and photoinhibition of terrestrial and epiphytic CAM tissues growing in full sunlight and deep shade. Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 15, 123–134
Adams, W.W., III, Smith, S.D., Osmond, C.B. (1987) Photoinhibition of the CAM succulent Opuntia basilaris growing in Death Valley: evidence from 77K fluorescence and quantum yield. Oecologia 71, 221–228
Adams, W.W., III, Terashima, I., Brugnoli, E., Demmig, B. (1988) Comparisons of photosynthesis and photoinhibition in the CAM vine Hoya australis and several C3 vines growing on the coast of eastern Australia. Plant Cell Environ. 11, 173–181
Adams, W.W., III, Díaz, M., Winter, K. (1989) Diurnal changes in photochemical efficiency, the reduction state of Q, radiationless energy dissipation, and non-photochemical fluorescence quenching in cacti exposed to natural sunlight in northern Venezuela. Oecologia 80, 553–561
Bilger, W., Björkman, O. (1990) Role of the xanthophyll cycle in photoprotection elucidated by measurements of light-induced absorbance changes, fluorescence, and photosynthesis in leaves of Hedera canariensis Willd. Photosynth. Res. 25, 173–186
Demmig, B., Winter, K., Krüger, A., Czygan, F.-C. (1987) Photoinhibition and zeaxanthin formation in intact leaves. A possible role of the xanthophyll cycle in the dissipation of excess light energy. Plant Physiol. 84, 218–224
Demmig, B., Winter, K., Krüger, A., Czygan, F.-C. (1988) Zeaxanthin and the heat dissipation of excess light energy in Nerium oleander exposed to a combination of high light and water stress. Plant Physiol. 87, 17–24
Demmig-Adams, B. (1990) Carotenoids and photoprotection in plants: A role for the xanthophyll zeaxanthin. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1020, 1–24
Demmig-Adams, B., Adams, W.W., III, Winter, K., Meyer, A., Schreiber, U., Pereira, J.S., Krüger, A., Czygan, F.-C., Lange, O.L. (1989a) Photochemical efficiency of PS II, photon yield of O2 evolution, photosynthetic capacity, and carotenoid composition during the “midday depression” of net CO2 uptake in Arbutus unedo growing in Portugal. Planta 177, 377–387
Demmig-Adams, B., Winter, K., Krüger, A., Czygan, F.-C. (1989b) Light response of CO2 assimilation, dissipation of excess excitation energy, and zeaxanthin content of sun and shade leaves. Plant Physiol. 90, 881–886
Demmig-Adams, B., Winter, K., Winkelmann, E., Krüger, A., Czygan, F.-C. (1989c) Photosynthetic characteristics and the ratios of chlorophyll, β-carotene, and the components of the xanthophyll cycle upon a sudden increase in growth light regime in several plant species. Bot. Acta 102, 319–325
Demmig-Adams, B., Adams, W.W., III, Heber, U., Neimanis, S., Winter, K., Krüger, A., Czygan, F.-C., Bilger, W., Björkman, O. (1990) Inhibition of zeaxanthin formation and of rapid changes in radiationless energy dissipation by dithiothreitol in spinach leaves and chloroplasts. Plant Physiol. 92, 293–301
Gamon, J.A., Field, C.B., Bilger, W., Björkman, O., Freedeen, A.L., Peñuelas, J. (1990) Remote sensing of the xanthophyll cycle and chlorophyll fluorescence in sunflower leaves and canopies. Oecologia 85, 1–7
Hager, A. (1980) The reversible, light-induced conversions of xanthophylls in the chloroplast. In: Pigments in plants, pp. 57–79, Czygan, F.-C., ed. Fischer, Stuttgart, FRG
Hoagland, D.R., Arnon, D.I. (1950) The water-culture method for growing plants without soil. Calif. Agric. Exp. Stat. Circ. No. 347
Siefermann, D. (1972) Kinetic studies on the xanthophyll cycle of Lemna gibba L. — Influence of photosynthetic oxygen and supplied reductor. In: 2nd Int. Congr. on Photosynthesis, vol. 1, pp. 629–635, Forti, G., Avron, M., Melandri, A., eds. Dr. Junk Publs., The Hague
Siefermann-Harms, D. (1977) The xanthophyll cycle in higher plants. In: Lipids and lipid polymers in higher plants, pp. 218–230, Tevini, M., Lichtenthaler, H.K., eds. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Siefermann-Harms, D., Hertzberg, S., Borch, G., Liaaen-Jensen, S. (1981) Lactucaxanthin, an ɛ,ɛ-carotene-3,3′-diol from Lactuca saliva. Phytochemistry 20, 85–88
Thayer, S.S., Björkman, O (1990) Leaf xanthophyll content and composition in sun and shade determined by HPLC. Photosynth. Res. 23, 331–343
Yamamoto, H.Y. (1979) Biochemistry of the violaxanthin cycle in higher plants. Pure Appl. Chem. 51, 639–648
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Competitive Research Grants Office, award No. 90-37130-5422, and a Faculty Development Award from the University of Colorado to W.W. Adams III.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Adams, W.W., Demmig-Adams, B. Operation of the xanthophyll cycle in higher plants in response to diurnal changes in incident sunlight. Planta 186, 390–398 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00195320
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00195320