Seasonal changes of violaxanthin cycle pigment de-epoxidation in wintergreen and evergreen plants

• Authors: Olga Dymova , Tamara Golovko
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

We studied carotenoids composition and the activities of the xanthophylls pigments in evergreen conifers (Abies sibirica, Juniperus communis, Picea obovata) and dwarf-shrub (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), and in wintergreen herbaceous plants (Ajuga reptans, Pyrola rotundifolia) growing near Syktyvkar (61°67/ N 50°77/ E). The carotenoid pool consisted mainly of following xanthophylls: lutein (70%), neoxanthin (7-10%) and a xanthophylls cycle component - violaxanthin (3-15%). Zeaxanthin and antheraxanthin were found in conifer samples collected in December-March while in other species - during all year. A direct connection between xanthophyll pigment de-epoxidation level and light energy thermal dissipation was shown only for boreal conifer species. It is proposed that zeaxanthin plays a central role in the dissipation of excess excitation energy (nonphotochemical quenching) in the antenna of photosystem II (PSII). We conclude that the increase in the extent of de-epoxidation is beneficial for the retention of PSII activity for conifers in early spring and for herbs in summer.

Keywords

EN

de-epoxidation state; carotenoids; xanthophyll cycle

• Publisher: Polish Biochemical Society
• Journal: Acta Biochimica Polonica
• Year: 2012
• Volume: 59
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 143-144

Dates

published

2012

received

2011-10-14

accepted

2012-03-01

(unknown)

2012-03-17

Contributors

author

Olga Dymova

• Institute of Biology, Komi Science Centre, Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Syktyvkar, Russia

author

Tamara Golovko

• Institute of Biology, Komi Science Centre, Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Syktyvkar, Russia

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