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Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research

September, 2020, Volume 30, 1, pp 23034-23037

Short Communication

Short Communication

Rehydration Quickly Assembles Photosynthetic Complexes in Desiccation Tolerant Riccia gangetica

Upma Bhatt, Hanwant Singh, Deepak Kumar and Vineet Soni*

Author Affiliations

Plant Bioenergetics & Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, India

Received: August 25, 2020 | Published: September 04, 2020

Corresponding author: Vineet Soni, Plant Bioenergetics & Biotechnology Laboratory, India

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2020.30.004891

Abstract

Resurrection plants such as lichens and some bryophytes have remarkable ability to survive under desiccation. At this stage no water content remains in the plant cellular system, but upon rehydration these plants subsequently regain their normal metabolism within seconds or minutes. To understand the physiological strategies of desiccation tolerance and hydration-induced photosynthetic recovery, we studied the polyphasic chlorophyll a fluorescence OJIP kinetics in Riccia gangetica during desiccation and wellhydrated states. Fv/Fm (maximal quantum efficiency of PSII) of desiccated thallus was found 0.047, which increased upto 0.79 within 24h of rehydration. Similarly, rehydration remarkably induced the light harvesting efficiency and rate of electron transport in R. gangetica. Results of present studies reveal that R. gangetica has high ability to survive under desiccation phase and quickly recover the photosynthetic process upon rehydration through the activation of light harvesting complexes, and coversion of inactive PS II into functional state.

Keywords: Desiccation; Riccia Gangetica; Chlorophyll fluorescence; JIP test

Introduction

Figure 1:

a. Riccia gangetica in desiccated state, and
b. After 24 h of rehydration

Desiccation tolerance is a unique potential of lichens and some bryophytes [1]. The idea of a repair-based mechanism of desiccation tolerance in bryophytes was introduced by Bewley [2]. Riccia gangetica (Ricciaceae) has physiological and biochemical adaption to equilibrate their cellular water levels with atmospheric water levels, a trait known as poikilohydry. At desiccated stage, the thalli of R. gangetica appear to be dead-brown, dried and lifeless (Figure 1a). Traces of water rapidly activate the photosynthetic process (Figure 1b). Hydration induced quick activation of photosynthesis indicates that all components of light reaction and enzymes are preserved throughout the events of desiccation. JIP test based on polyphasic chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis has become one of the powerful tools to study survival strategies in lichens and bryophytes [3,4]. In present investigations, efforts were done to answer the following questions a. How the photosynthetic machinery is preserved in desiccated R. gangetica?, and b. How rehydration reactivates the photosynthetic process in desicatted thallus withinseconds or minutes? To answer these questions, polyphasic chlorophyll fluorescence OJIP kinetics were studied during desiccation and rehydration process in R. gangetica.

Materials and Methods

Plant Materials & Measurement of Polyphasic Chlorophyll Fluorescence Kinetics: Dehydrated thalli of R. gangetica were collected from botanical garden, University College of Science, Udaipur (India) during rainy season (August, 2019). The Chlorophyll a fluorescence parameter (F0-minimum fluorescence, FM- minimal fluorescence) were measured by HandyPEA (HansaTech, UK) according to the JIP- test [3,4]. The leaf clip (HansaTech, UK) was modified so as to facilitate the addition of water from the back side even during multiple light pulse measurements. Prior to hydration, F0-minimum fluorescence, and FM- minimal fluorescence of desiccated thalli were recorded (Tables 1 & 2). Upon hydration, fluorescence transient O-J-I-P were recorded at 5Sec, 1h and 24h. The phenomenological energy fluxes (Absorption flux per cross section-ABS/CS, trapped energy flux per cross section-TR/CS, and electron transport flux per cross section -ET/CS), the density of active PS II reaction center (RI/CS), quantum yield of primary photochemistry (FV/FMpo), quantum yield of electron transport ET/ABS (φEo), quantum yield of energy dissipation (ϕDo) were calculated as per the equations of JIP- test [3]

Table 1: Data extracted from the recorded fluorescence transient O-J-I-P.

Table 2: Data extracted from the recorded fluorescence transient O-J-I-P.

Performance Index on Cross Section Basis

Results and Discussion

Desiccation-tolerance, the skill to survive without water for longer period and then recover normal metabolic activity upon rehydration, is one of the most remarkable features of bryophytes. This ability to survive under desiccation has also been observed in lichens and bryophytes [3,4]. In this study, we chose the R. gangetica, one of the dominant bryophytes of Rajasthan (India), to investigate the mechanism of conservation of photosynthetic potential under desiccation and rapid recovery of photosynthesis upon rehydration. Desiccated thalli did not show any variation between F0 and FM, which shows complete inactivation of photosynthetic activity (Figure 2). A quick induction in chlorophyll fluorescence was noticed when desiccated thalli were hydrated. Chlorophyll a fluorescence increased continuously from initial (F0) to maximal (FM) intensity in after 5 seconds of watering (Tables 3 & 4). Two intermediate peaks FJ (chlorophyll fluorescence at 2ms) and FI (chlorophyll fluorescence at 300ms) were formed between F0 and FM, forming a typical OJIP curve. Rapid increase in fluorescence indicates quick recovery of photosynthetic machinery in R. gangetica.

Table 3: Density of reaction centers

Table 4: Quantum efficiencies or flux ratios.

Figure 2: Induction of chlorophyll a fluorescence during desiccation and rehydration stage in R. gangetica.

Fv/FM (jPo or TR / ABS) is a sensitive indicator of plant photosynthetic performance. Lower values of Fv/Fm indicates down-regulation of photosynthesis in plants (Maxwell & Johnson 2000). Upon rehydration, Fv/Fm apparently increased from 0.047 (desiccated state) to 0.79 (24h after rehydration). Increase of Fv/ Fm indicates that the thalli have remarkable ability to restore photosynthetic performance by the activation of light harvesting complexes and other proteins/enzymes involved in photosynthesis process. Similarly, quantum yield of electron transport (ϕEo or ET / ABS) increased with increasing the duration of hydration upto 24h. A drastic decline in quantum yield of energy dissipation (ϕDo or DI / ABS) indicates the utilization of light energy into electron transport process (Figure 3a).

Figure 3:

a. Radar plot and
b. leaf modelsshowing the variations in photosynthetic parameters during desiccation and various rehydration stages in R. gangetica (black dots are representing inactive PSII RCs and intensity of leaf color is indicating chlorophyll concentration).

Density of active reaction (RC/CS) centers increased upon rehydration (inactive RCs are denoted by black dots in leaf model of desiccated thallus in Figure 3b). Increase in RC/CS is due to the conversion of inactive PSIIs into functional state. Absorbance per cross section (ABS/CS) rapidly increased during rehydration process. It may be due to the quick assembly of light harvesting complexes (LHCs). Trapping (TR/CS) and electron transport per cross section (ET/CS) also enhanced when desiccated thalli were rehydrated (Figure 3b). Increment in TR/CS and ET/CS suggests that rehydration converts inactive PSII reaction centers into active forms. Performance indices provide information about the overall photosynthetic performance of PSI and PSII. In present studies, rehydration rapidly increased the performance index (PIcs) in R. gangetica. On the basis of all photosynthetic parameters, it is concluded that R. gangetica has evolved a remarkable physiological adaption to protect their photosynthetic machinery under desiccation stage. The results also indicates that during desiccation PS II reaction centers become inactive and act as ‘energy dissipating units’, while they converts in ‘energy utilizing units’ upon rehydration.

References

Short Communication

Rehydration Quickly Assembles Photosynthetic Complexes in Desiccation Tolerant Riccia gangetica

Upma Bhatt, Hanwant Singh, Deepak Kumar and Vineet Soni*

Author Affiliations

Plant Bioenergetics & Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, India

Received: August 25, 2020 | Published: September 04, 2020

Corresponding author: Vineet Soni, Plant Bioenergetics & Biotechnology Laboratory, India

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2020.30.004891

Abstract

Resurrection plants such as lichens and some bryophytes have remarkable ability to survive under desiccation. At this stage no water content remains in the plant cellular system, but upon rehydration these plants subsequently regain their normal metabolism within seconds or minutes. To understand the physiological strategies of desiccation tolerance and hydration-induced photosynthetic recovery, we studied the polyphasic chlorophyll a fluorescence OJIP kinetics in Riccia gangetica during desiccation and wellhydrated states. Fv/Fm (maximal quantum efficiency of PSII) of desiccated thallus was found 0.047, which increased upto 0.79 within 24h of rehydration. Similarly, rehydration remarkably induced the light harvesting efficiency and rate of electron transport in R. gangetica. Results of present studies reveal that R. gangetica has high ability to survive under desiccation phase and quickly recover the photosynthetic process upon rehydration through the activation of light harvesting complexes, and coversion of inactive PS II into functional state.

Keywords: Desiccation; Riccia Gangetica; Chlorophyll fluorescence; JIP test