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Non-Photochemical Quenching under Drought and Fluctuating Light

Artur Nosalewicz¹, Karolina Okoń¹, Maria Skorupka¹

¹Institute of Agrophysics of Polish Academy of Sciences, 20-290 Lublin, Poland.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

|May 14, 2022

Summary

Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) in Arabidopsis thaliana is crucial for managing excess light energy. Water availability significantly impacts NPQ dynamics, with zeaxanthin and PsbS protein playing key roles, especially under drought stress.

Area of Science:

Plant physiology
Photosynthesis research
Environmental stress response

Background:

Plants utilize light energy for photosynthesis, but excess light can cause damage.
Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) is a vital photoprotective mechanism dissipating excess light energy.
Understanding NPQ components is crucial for plant adaptation to variable environments.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the roles of zeaxanthin and PsbS protein in NPQ under fluctuating light (FL).
To evaluate the impact of water availability on NPQ dynamics and its components.
To determine the importance of NPQ components for Arabidopsis thaliana coping with combined light and water stress.

Main Methods:

Laboratory experiment using Arabidopsis thaliana wild type (WT) and npq1, npq4 mutants.
Plants were subjected to optimum or reduced water availability.
Exposure to fluctuating light (FL) with varying intensities and durations.

Main Results:

Water deficit altered the dynamics of NPQ induced by FL.
Mutants lacking zeaxanthin or PsbS showed reduced ability to cope with FL.
Synergy between zeaxanthin and PsbS in NPQ amplitude was enhanced under drought conditions.
PsbS protein was identified as a critical component for adapting to FL under both optimal and reduced water conditions.

Conclusions:

Zeaxanthin and PsbS are essential for NPQ regulation under fluctuating light.
Water availability significantly modulates the function of NPQ components.
PsbS plays a primary role in plant acclimation to fluctuating light, particularly under water-deficit stress.

Keywords:

Arabidopsis thaliana NPQ PsbS RWC dissipation of excessive energy non-photochemical quenching variable light water deficit xanthophyll cycle

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