Leaf solar tracking response exhibits diurnal constancy in photosystem II efficiency

• Published in: Environmental and experimental botany Vol. 36; no. 4; pp. 431 - 438
• Main Authors: Sailaja, M.V., Rama Das, V.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-12-1996; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Metabolism; Photosynthesis, respiration. Anabolism, catabolism; Photosynthetic efficiency; Plant physiology and development; Quantum efficiency of PS II; Solar tracking plants; Static leaved plants; PS II; Quantum efficiency of PS II; F m; Solar tracking plants; Static leaved plants; F o; Photosynthetic efficiency; F v; Tropism; Light effect; Luminous intensity; Photosystem 2; Plant leaf; Spermatophyta; Diurnal variation; Photosynthesis; Orientation; Solar radiation; Photochemistry
• ISSN: 0098-8472; 1873-7307
• DOI: 10.1016/S0098-8472(96)01020-9

A unique behaviour was observed in solar tracking plant (diaheliotropic) species with a characteristic ability to maintain constancy in photochemical efficiency and photosynthetic rates throughout the day while the static leaved plants exhibited typical midday depressions in
F
v
F
m
and photosynthetic oxygen evolution. The higher photosynthetic efficiency of diaheliotropic plants is proposed to be due to greater quantum efficiency of photosystem II at superoptimal irradiances, which was found detrimental to static leaved and paraheliotropic plants. This is the first demonstration of the lack of photoinhibition in field conditions in plants that maximise solar interception through solar tracking.