To identify genes associated with the cytokinin-induced enhanced drought tolerance, we analyzed the transcriptome of wild-type and transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum 'SR1') plants expressing P(SARK)::IPT (for senescence-associated receptor kinase::isopentenyltransferase) grown under well-watered and prolonged water deficit conditions using the tomato GeneChip. During water deficit, the expre...

The interactions of the xanthophylls zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin and violaxanthin with chlorophyll, which are relevant for the chlorophyll fluorescence quenching in the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) process in green plants, are investigated by means of quantum chemical methods. In particular, we use a hybrid approach consisting of time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) and configur...

Diatoms are especially important microorganisms because they constitute the larger group of microalgae. To survive the constant variations of the light environment, diatoms have developed mechanisms aiming at the dissipation of excess energy, such as the xanthophyll cycle and the non-photochemical chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence quenching. This contribution is dedicated to the relaxation of the ...

Designing a new family of advanced high-strength steels (AHSSs) to develop automotive parts that cover early industry needs is the aim many investigations. One candidates in 3rd AHSS are quenching and partitioning (QP) steels. These display an excellent relationship between strength formability, making them able fulfill requirements safety, while reducing automobile weight enhance performance d...

The aim of this study is to evaluate the  effects of water deficit stress on chlorophyll fluorescence (CF) characteristics of photosystem II (PSII) and pigment contents in two rootstock seedlings (Pistacia atlantica L. and P. khinjuk L.). Three levels of soil water potential (Ψs) was used, including WWD (-0.05 MPa), MWD (-0.7 MPa) and SWD (-1.5 MPa). It was found that water stress increased the...

The past decade has seen significant progress on the direct detection and characterization of young, self-luminous giant planets at wide orbital separations from their host stars. Some of these planets show evidence for disequilibrium processes like transport-induced quenching in their atmospheres; photochemistry may also be important, despite the large orbital distances. These disequilibrium c...

"NYB" is a chlorophyll-less barley mutant, which grows relatively slow and unhealthily. The effects of water stress on photosystem II (PSII) of NYB and its wild type (WT) were investigated. Unexpected results indicated that the mutant was more resistant to water stress, because: PSII core proteins D1, D2 and LHCII declined more in WT than in NYB under water stress, and the corresponding psbA, p...

The efficiency of protective energy dissipation by non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) in photosystem II (PSII) has been recently quantified by a new non-invasive photochemical quenching parameter, qPd. PSII yield (ФPSII) was expressed in terms of NPQ, and the extent of damage to the reaction centres (RCIIs) was calculated via qPd as: ФPSII=qPd×(F v/F m)/{1+[1-(F v/F m)]×NPQ}. Here this approach ...

The objective of this study was to determine xanthophyll cycle pool size and composition in response to N status and their relationships to non-photochemical quenching in apple leaves. Bench-grafted Fuji/M.26 trees were fertilized with different N concentrations (0-20 mM) in a modified Hoagland's solution for 6 weeks to create a wide range of leaf N status (1-4.4 g m(-2)). Chlorophyll content, ...