Photosynthetica 2001, 39(4):497-506 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015639609268

The Heterogeneity of Structural and Functional Photosynthetic Characteristics of Mesophyll Chloroplasts in Various Parts of Mature or Senescing Leaf Blade of Two Maize (Zea Mays L.) Genotypes

J. Kutík, D. Holá, A. Vičánková, M. ©mídová, M. Kočová, M. Körnerová, L. Kubínová

Differences in ultrastructural parameters of mesophyll cell (MC) chloroplasts, contents of photosynthetic pigments, and photochemical activities of isolated MC chloroplasts were studied in the basal, middle, and apical part of mature or senescing leaf blade of two maize genotypes. A distinct heterogeneity of leaf blade was observed both for structural and functional characteristics of chloroplasts. In both mature and senescing leaves the shape of MC chloroplasts changed from flat one in basal part of leaf to nearly spherical one in leaf apex. The volume density of granal thylakoids decreased from leaf base to apex in both types of leaves examined, while the amount of intergranal thylakoids increased in mature leaves but decreased in senescing leaves. The most striking heterogeneity was found for the quantity of plastoglobuli, which strongly increased with the increasing distance from leaf base. The differences in chloroplast ultrastructure were accompanied by differences in other photosynthetic characteristics. The Hill reaction activity and activity of photosystem 1 of isolated MC chloroplasts decreased from leaf base to apex in mature leaves. Apical part of senescing leaf blade was characterised by low contents of chlorophyll (Chl) a and Chl b, whereas in mature leaves, the content of Chls as well as the content of total carotenoids (Car) slightly increased from basal to apical leaf part. This was reflected also in the ratio Chl (a+b)/total Car; the ratio of Chl a/b did not significantly differ between individual parts of leaf blade. Both genotypes examined differed in the character of developmental gradient observed along whole length of leaf blade.

Additional key words: chloroplast development; chloroplast dimensions; electron microscopy; Hill reaction activity; peripheral reticulum; photosynthesis; photosystem 1 activity; plastoglobuli; thylakoids

Published: December 1, 2001  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Kutík, J., Holá, D., Vičánková, A., ©mídová, M., Kočová, M., Körnerová, M., & Kubínová, L. (2001). The Heterogeneity of Structural and Functional Photosynthetic Characteristics of Mesophyll Chloroplasts in Various Parts of Mature or Senescing Leaf Blade of Two Maize (Zea Mays L.) Genotypes. Photosynthetica, 39(4), 497-506. doi: 10.1023/A:1015639609268
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Bredenkamp, G.J., Baker, N.R.: The changing contribution of LHC I to Photosystem I activity during chloroplast biogenesis in wheat.-Biochim. biophys. Acta 934: 14-21, 1988. Go to original source...
    2. Čatský, J., ©esták, Z.: Photosynthesis during leaf development.-In: Pessarakli, M. (ed.): Handbook of Photosynthesis. Pp. 633-660. Marcel Dekker, New York-Basel-Hong Kong 1997.
    3. Chonan, N., Matsuda, T., Tsuchiya, T.: [Ultrastructural changes in chloroplast and phloem of rice leaves during senescence under different nitrogen supply.]-Jap. J. Crop Sci. 60: 247-254, 1991. [In Jap.] Go to original source...
    4. Davies, T.G.E., Ougham, H.J., Thomas, H., Rogers, L.J.: Leaf development in Lolium temulentum: Plastid membrane polypeptides in relation to assembly of the photosynthetic apparatus and leaf growth.-Physiol. Plant. 75: 47-54, 1989. Go to original source...
    5. Davies, T.G.E., Rogers, L.J., Thomas, B.J., Thomas, H.: Leaf development in Lolium temulentum: Formation of the photosynthetic apparatus in the presence of the porphyrin synthesis inhibitor gabaculine.-J. exp. Bot. 41: 905-917, 1990. Go to original source...
    6. Hashimoto, H., Kura-Hotta, M., Katoh, S.: Changes in protein content and in the structure and number of chloroplasts during leaf senescence in rice seedlings.-Plant Cell Physiol. 30: 707-715, 1989.
    7. Hew, C.S., Soh, W.P., Ng, C.K.Y.: Variation in photosynthetic characteristics along the leaf blade of Oncidium goldiana, a C3 tropical epiphytic orchid hybrid.-Int. J. Plant Sci. 159: 116-120, 1998. Go to original source...
    8. Hudák, J.: Photosynthetic apparatus.-In: Pessarakli, M. (ed.): Handbook of Photosynthesis. Pp. 27-48. Marcel Dekker, New York-Basel-Hong Kong 1997.
    9. Jackowski, G., Kluck, E.: Heterogeneous behaviour of subunits of the light-harvesting chlorophyll-a/b protein complex of photosystem 2 during cation-induced aggregation.-Photosynthetica 29: 401-407, 1993.
    10. Körnerová, M., Holá, D.: The effect of low growth temperature on Hill reaction and photosystem 1 activities and pigment contents in maize inbred lines and their F1 hybrids.-Photosynthetica 37: 477-488, 1999. Go to original source...
    11. Kutík, J.: Chloroplast development.-In: ©esták, Z. (ed.): Photosynthesis during Leaf Development. Pp. 51-75. Academia, Praha; Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht-Boston-Lancaster 1985. Go to original source...
    12. Kutík, J.: A quantitative study on ontogenetic development of chloroplast ultrastructure.-Acta Univ. carol., Biol. 31: 51-54, 1988.
    13. Kutík, J.: The development of chloroplast structure during leaf ontogeny.-Photosynthetica 35: 481-505, 1998. Go to original source...
    14. Kutík, J., Činčerová, A., Dvořák, M.: Chloroplast ultrastructural development during the ontogeny of the second leaf of wheat under nitrogen deficiency.-Photosynthetica 28: 447-453, 1993.
    15. Kutík, J., Kočová, M., Holá, D., Körnerová, M.: The development of chloroplast ultrastructure and Hill reaction activity during leaf ontogeny in different maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes.-Photosynthetica 36: 497-507, 1999. Go to original source...
    16. Kutík, J., Nátr, L., Demmers-Derks, H.H., Lawlor, D.W.: Chloroplast ultrastructure of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) cultivated in normal and elevated CO2 concentrations with two contrasted nitrogen supplies.-J. exp. Bot. 46: 1797-1802, 1995. Go to original source...
    17. Kutík, J., Zima, J., ©esták, Z., Volfová, A.: Ontogenetic changes in the internal limitations to bean-leaf photosynthesis. 10. Chloroplast ultrastructure in primary and first trifoliate leaves.-Photosynthetica 22: 511-515, 1988.
    18. Lawrence, M.E., Possingham, J.V.: Microspectrofluorometric measurement of chloroplast DNA in dividing and expanding leaf cells of Spinacia oleracea.-Plant Physiol. 81: 708-710, 1986. Go to original source...
    19. Lebedev, N.N., ©iffel, P., ©esták, Z.: Composition of chlorophyll-protein complexes and fluorescence spectrum changes during ontogeny of primary leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris L.-Photosynthetica 20: 146-152, 1986.
    20. Nishioka, D., Brisibe, E.A., Miyake, H., Taniguchi, T.: Ultrastructural observations in the suppression of granal development in bundle sheath chloroplasts of NADP-ME type C4 monocot and dicot species.-Jap. J. Crop Sci. 62: 621-627, 1993. Go to original source...
    21. Ono, K., Hashimoto, H., Katoh, S.: Changes in the number and size of chloroplasts during senescence of primary leaves of wheat grown under different conditions.-Plant Cell Physiol. 36: 9-17, 1995.
    22. Porra, R.J., Thompson, W.A., Kriedemann, P.E.: Determination of accurate extinction coefficients and simultaneous equations for assaying chlorophylls a and b extracted with four different solvents: verification of the concentration of chlorophyll standards by atomic absorption spectroscopy.-Biochim. biophys. Acta 975: 384-394, 1989. Go to original source...
    23. Ram, S., Sharma, A., Sen Gupta, U.K.: Photosynthesis and carbon import in developing leaves of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.).-Photosynthetica 30: 53-58, 1994.
    24. Rascio, N., Mariani, P., Casadoro, G.: Etioplast-chloroplast transformation in maize leaves: Effects of tissue age and light intensity.-Protoplasma 119: 110-120, 1984. Go to original source...
    25. ©esták, Z., ©iffel, P.: Leaf-age related differences in chlorophyll fluorescence.-Photosynthetica 33: 347-369, 1997.
    26. Somersalo, S., Aro, E.-M.: Fluorescence induction in pea leaves of different ages.-Photosynthetica 21: 29-35, 1987.
    27. Tichá, I.: Ontogeny of leaf morphology and anatomy.-In: ©esták, Z. (ed.): Photosynthesis during Leaf Development. Pp. 16-50. Academia, Praha; Dr W. Junk Publ., Dordrecht-Boston-Lancaster 1985. Go to original source...
    28. Vičánková, A., Holá, D., Kutík, J.: Heterogeneity of chloroplast ultrastructure and functional characteristics in various parts of maize (Zea mays L.) leaf blade.-Plant Physiol. Biochem. 38(Suppl.): 111, 2000.
    29. Webber, A.N., Baker, N.R., Paige, C.D., Hipkins, M.F.: Photosynthetic electron transport and establishment of an associated trans-thylakoid proton electrochemical gradient during development of the wheat leaf.-Plant Cell Environ. 9: 203-208, 1986. Go to original source...
    30. Wellburn, A.R.: The spectral determination of chlorophylls a and b, as well as total carotenoids, using various solvents with spectrophotometers of different resolution.-J. Plant Physiol. 144: 307-313, 1994. Go to original source...
    31. Wellburn, A.R., Robinson, D.C., Wellburn, F.A.M.: Chloroplast development in low light-grown barley seedlings.-Planta 154: 259-265, 1982. Go to original source...

    Return to the content