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Mehler reaction plays a role in C3 and C4 photosynthesis under shade and low CO2

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Abstract

Alternative electron fluxes such as the cyclic electron flux (CEF) around photosystem I (PSI) and Mehler reaction (Me) are essential for efficient photosynthesis because they generate additional ATP and protect both photosystems against photoinhibition. The capacity for Me can be estimated by measuring O2 exchange rate under varying irradiance and CO2 concentration. In this study, mass spectrometric measurements of O2 exchange were made using leaves of representative species of C3 and C4 grasses grown under natural light (control; PAR ~ 800 µmol quanta m−2 s−1) and shade (~ 300 µmol quanta m−2 s−1), and in representative species of gymnosperm, liverwort and fern grown under natural light. For all control grown plants measured at high CO2, O2 uptake rates were similar between the light and dark, and the ratio of Rubisco oxygenation to carboxylation (Vo/Vc) was low, which suggests little potential for Me, and that O2 uptake was mainly due to photorespiration or mitochondrial respiration under these conditions. Low CO2 stimulated O2 uptake in the light, Vo/Vc and Me in all species. The C3 species had similar Vo/Vc, but Me was highest in the grass and lowest in the fern. Among the C4 grasses, shade increased O2 uptake in the light, Vo/Vc and the assimilation quotient (AQ), particularly at low CO2, whilst Me was only substantial at low CO2 where it may contribute 20–50% of maximum electron flow under high light.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis (CE140100015) awarded to OG and MRB. JVS gratefully acknowledges the award of a Higher Degree Research Scholarship funded through the Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis and Western Sydney University.

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  1. ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia

    Julius Ver Sagun & Oula Ghannoum

  2. ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia

    Murray R. Badger & Wah Soon Chow

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  1. Julius Ver Sagun
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All authors conceived the research plans; JVS performed the experiments under BMR and CWS supervision; JVS and OG wrote the article with contribution from other authors.

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Correspondence to Oula Ghannoum.

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Sagun, J.V., Badger, M.R., Chow, W.S. et al. Mehler reaction plays a role in C3 and C4 photosynthesis under shade and low CO2. Photosynth Res 149, 171–185 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-021-00819-1

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