Dynamic seasonal changes in photosynthesis systems in leaves of Asarum tamaense, an evergreen understorey herbaceous species

Abstract

Background and aims: Evergreen herbaceous species in the deciduous forest understorey maintain their photosystems in long-lived leaves under dynamic seasonal changes in light and temperature. However, in evergreen understorey herbs, it is unknown how photosynthetic electron transport acclimates to seasonal changes in forest understorey environments, and what photoprotection systems function in excess energy dissipation under high-light and low-temperature environments in winter.

Methods: Here, we used Asarum tamaense, an evergreen herbaceous species in the deciduous forest understorey with a single-flush and long-lived leaves, and measured photosynthetic CO2 assimilation and electron transport in leaves throughout the year. The contents of photosynthetic proteins, pigments and primary metabolites were determined from regularly collected leaves.

Key results: Both the rates of CO2 assimilation and electron transport under saturated light were kept low in summer, but increased in autumn and winter in A. tamaense leaves. Although the contents of photosynthetic proteins including Rubisco did not increase in autumn and winter, the proton motive force and ΔpH across the thylakoid membrane were high in summer and decreased from summer to winter to a great extent. These decreases alleviated the suppression by lumen acidification and increased the electron transport rate in winter. The content and composition of carotenoids changed seasonally, which may affect changes in non-photochemical quenching from summer to winter. Winter leaves accumulated proline and malate, which may support cold acclimation.

Conclusions: In A. tamaense leaves, the increase in photosynthetic electron transport rates in winter was not due to an increase in photosynthetic enzyme contents, but due to the activation of photosynthetic enzymes and/or release of limitation of photosynthetic electron flow. These seasonal changes in the regulation of electron transport and also the changes in several photoprotection systems should support the acclimation of photosynthetic C gain under dynamic environmental changes throughout the year.

Keywords: Endangered species; evergreen; photoprotection; photosynthesis; seasonal acclimation; understorey species.