• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2005

Photoautotrophic bacteria are promising candidates for the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) since they can address the critical problem of substrate costs. In this study, we isolated 25 Tn5-inserted mutants of the Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 which showed enhanced PHB accumulation compared to the wild-type strain. After 5-days cultivation under nitrogen-limited mixotrophic conditions, the intracellular levels of PHB content in these mutants reached up to $10-30\%$ of dry cell weight (DCW) comparable to $4\%$ of DCW in the wild-type strain. Using the method of inverse PCR, the affected genes of the mutants were mapped on the completely known genome sequence of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. As a result, the increased PHB accumulation in 5 mutants were found to be resulted from defects of genes coding for NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase, O-succinylbenzoic-CoA ligase, photosystem II PsbT protein or histidine kinase, which are involved in photosystem in thylakoid inner membrane of the cell. The values of $NAD(P)H/NAD(P)^+$ ratio in the cells of these mutants were much higher than that of the wild-type strain as measured by using pulse-amplitude modulated fluorometer, suggesting that PHB synthesis could be enhanced by increasing the level of cellular NAD(P)H which is a limiting substrate for NADPH-dependent acetoacetyl-CoA reductase. From these results, it is likely that NAD(P)H would be a limiting factor for PHB synthesis in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

• ALGAE
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.321-331
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• 2014

Vertebrata lanosa is an abundant and obligate red algal epiphyte of Ascophyllum nodosum that forms part of a complex and highly integrated symbiotic system that includes the ascomycete, Mycophycias ascophylli. As part of ongoing studies to resolve interactions among species in the symbiosis, we used pulse amplitude modulation fluorimetry of chlorophyll a fluorescence, from photosystem II (PSII), to measure the maximum quantum yield ($F_v/F_m$) of PSII [$QY(II)_{max}$] and relative photosynthetic electron transport rates (rETR), as a function of light intensity, in order to evaluate the photosynthetic capacity of the two algal symbionts in the field and in the laboratory under different treatments. Our primary question was 'Is the ecological integration of these species reflected in a corresponding physiological integration involving photosynthetic process?' In the laboratory we measured changes in $QY(II)_{max}$ in thalli of V. lanosa and A. nodosum over one week periods when maintained together in either attached or detached treatments or when maintained separated from each other. While the $QY(II)_{max}$ of PSII of A. nodosum remained high and showed no significant variation among treatments, V. lanosa showed decreasing performance in the following conditions: V. lanosa attached to A. nodosum, V. lanosa in the same culture, but not attached to A. nodosum, and V. lanosa alone. These results are consistent with observations in which rETR was reduced in V. lanosa maintained alone versus attached to A. nodosum. Values for $QY(II)_{max}$ in V. lanosa measured in the field in fully submerged thalli were similar to those measured in the laboratory when V. lanosa was attached to it obligate host A. nodosum. Our results provide evidence of a physiological association of the epiphyte and its host that reflects the known ecology.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.373-375
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• 2002

Lhcb genes encoding light-harvesting chlorophyll-a/b binding (LHC) proteins of photosystem (PS) II were comprehensively characterized using the expressed sequence tag (EST) databases in the green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The gene family was composed of eight Lhcb genes including four new genes, which were isolated and sequenced. The effects of light intensity on the levels of mRNAs accumulation of multiple Lhcb genes were studied under various conditions. The results indicate that Lhcb genes are coordinately regulated in response to light conditions, and repressed when the input light energy exceeded the requirement for $CO_2$ assimilation. The effects of high light on the expression of the Lhcb genes observed in the presence of an electron transport inhibitor, DCMU, and in mutants deficient in photosynthetic reaction centers suggest the presence of two alternative mechanisms for regulating the genes expression under high-light conditions.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.69-80
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• 1992

Effects of light on leaf senescence of Phseolus vulgaris were investigated by measuring the disassembly of chlorophyll-protein complexes in detached leaves which had been kept in the dark or under light. The loss of chlorophyll accompanied by degradation of chlorophyll- protein complexes. PSI (photosystem I) complex containing LHCI (light harvesting complex of PSI) apoproteins was rapidly decreased after the early stage of dark-induced senescence. RC(reaction center)-Cores was slightly increased until 4 d and slowly decreased thereafter. As disassembly of LHCII trimer progressed after the late stage of senescence, there was a steady increase in the relative amount of SC(small complex)-2 containing LHCII monomer. On the other hand, white and red light adaptation caused the structural stability of chlorophyll-protein complexes during dark-induced senescence. Particularly, red light was more effective in the retardation of LHCII breakdown than white light, whereas white light was slightly effect in protecting the disassembly of PSI complex compared to red light. These results suggest, therefore, that light may be a regulatory factor for stability of chlorophyll-protein complexes in the senescent leaves.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.217-226
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• 1988

Effects of simazine [2-chloro-4,6-bis(methylamino)-s-triazine] on the photochemical reactions of isolaed spinach chloroplasts and crude thylakoids of Anabaena inequalis UTEX B-381 were compared. Simazine inhibited photosynthetic O2 evolution and increased the chlorophyll fluorescence in whole cells of Anabaena. The electron transfer from diphenylcarbazide to 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol was inhibited by simazine treatment in spinach chloroplasts, but not in crude thylakoids of Anabaena. In spinach chloroplasts, the chlorophyll fluorescence was increased by simazine treatment in the presence of diphenylcarbazide and ferricyanide, but not in the presence of diphenylcarbazide and silicomolybdate. In crude thylakoids of Anabaena, simazine treatment did not increase the chlorophyll fluorescence in the presence of either diphenylcarbazide and silicomolybdate, or diphenylcarbazide and ferricyanide. There results suggest that the inhibitory site of simazine on photosynthetic electron transport chain of anabaena is different from that of spinach chloroplasts. And there may be a possiblity that the inhibition site of simazine in Anabaena lies on the donor side of photosystem II, before the site of electron donation by diphenylcarbazide.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.242-247
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• 2018

Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6 induces systemic tolerance in plants against drought stress. A volatile, 2R, 3R-butanediol, produced by the bacterium causes partial stomatal closure, thus, limiting water loss from the plant. In this study, we report that applications of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from P. chlororaphis O6 to epidermal peels of leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana also reduce the size of stomatal openings. Growth of A. thaliana seedlings with applications of the EPS from P. chlororaphis O6 reduced the extent of wilting when water was withheld from the plants. Fluorescence measurements showed photosystem II was protected in the A. thaliana leaves in the water stressed EPS-exposed plants. These findings indicate that P. chlororaphis O6 has redundancy in traits associated with induction of mechanisms to limit water stress in plants.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.158-161
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• 2002

UV-B radiation gives harmful effects on plants, such as production of several types of DNA lesions, and growth inhibition. On the other hand, plants have some protective mechanisms, including filtering effect due to accumulation of phenolic compounds in epidermal cells and reactivation of DNA lesions, which are enhanced by UV-B irradiation. We have investigated the mechanism of UV-B effects on plants using cucumber seedlings as plant materials. Cucumber plants were cultivated in an artificially lit growth chamber. Supplemental UV-B irradiation, of which intensity was almost equal to the level of natural sunlight, retarded the growth of first leaves. The growth retardation must result trom the inhibition of cell division and/or cell growth. Microscopical observation of leaf epidermis suggested that the growth retardation might be mainly caused by cell growth inhibition. The retardation was, however, restored within 2 or 3 days after the termination of UV-B irradiation. It is known that UV-B irradiation lowers the activity of photo system II (PS II). In the present experimental conditions, however, UV-B irradiation has little effect on PS II activity as estimated by chlorophyll fluorescence. The stomatal conductance, a major factor determining photosynthetic rate, of first leaves increased during the growth. The increase of stomatal conductance was suppressed by UV-B irradiation and restored by termination of the irradiation. It has not been clear, however, what mechanisms are involved in the suppression of increase of stomatal conductance.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.299-307
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• 1988

The electron transport activities of choloroplasts isolated from hte detached rise (Oryza sativa L. cv. Chucheong) leave stored under low temperature(4$^{\circ}C$) with light illumination were investigated to understand the role of light in the low temperature inhibition of photosynthesis in the chilling-sensitive plants. Chlorophyll content of the detached leaves upon incubation at 28$^{\circ}C$ and 4$^{\circ}C$ in the dark was also measured. The rice seedlings were grown with Hoagland medium in the growth chamber of 28$^{\circ}C$ temperature and 400 ft.c fluorescent light with the photoperiod of 16 h. Although chlorophyll content of the detached leaves stored in the dark declined by 61.7% after 28$^{\circ}C$ treatement, there occurred only 5.2% decrease of chlorophyll with 4$^{\circ}C$ treatment. Low temperature treatment(4$^{\circ}C$) for 6 days brought about decreases in total photosystem(PS II＋PS I) activities by 35.2% and 73.6% in te presence and absence of light, respectively, while after 28$^{\circ}C$ treatment of the detached leaves for 6 days in the dark there was only 27.6% decrease in PS II＋PS I activity. PS II activities were also decreased by 35.6% and 72.2% in the light and dark, respectively. PS I activities were decreased slightly, however, by 7.6% and 16.2% in the light and dark, respectively. Investigations into DPClongrightarrowDCPIP and NH2OHlongrightarrowDCPIP activities revealed that low temperature inhibition of PS II activities was not due to the inactivation of the water oxidation capacity at low temperature. It was concluded that light protects the electron transport activities of isolated rice chloroplasts from the inhibitory effect of low temperature in the detached leaves.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.601-608
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• 2017

The effects of elevated atmospheric $CO_2$ on growth and photosynthesis of soybean (Glycine max Merr.) were investigated to predict its productivity under elevated $CO_2$ levels in the future. Soybean grown for 6 weeks showed significant increase in vegetative growth, based on plant height, leaf characteristics (area, length, and width), and the SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter value (SPAD value) under elevated $CO_2$ conditions ($800{\mu}mol/mol$) compared to ambient $CO_2$ conditions ($400{\mu}mol/mol$). Under elevated $CO_2$ conditions, the photosynthetic rate (A) increased although photosystem II (PS II) photochemical activity ($F_v/F_m$) decreased. The maximum photosynthetic rate ($A_{max}$) was higher under elevated $CO_2$ conditions than under ambient $CO_2$ conditions, whereas the maximum electron transport rate ($J_{max}$) was lower under elevated $CO_2$ conditions compared to ambient $CO_2$ conditions. The optimal temperature for photosynthesis shifted significantly by approximately $3^{\circ}C$ under the elevated $CO_2$ conditions. With the increase in temperature, the photosynthetic rate increased below the optimal temperature (approximately $30^{\circ}C$) and decreased above the optimal temperature, whereas the dark respiration rate ($R_d$) increased continuously regardless of the optimal temperature. The difference in photosynthetic rate between ambient and elevated $CO_2$ conditions was greatest near the optimal temperature. These results indicate that future increases in $CO_2$ will increase productivity by increasing the photosynthetic rate, although it may cause damage to the PS II reaction center as suggested by decreases in $F_v/F_m$, in soybean.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2017

We investigated growth, clove development, and photosystem II activity in garlic (Allium sativum L.) grown under different day/night temperature regimes using Soil-Plant-Atmosphere - Research (SPAR) chambers to determine the optimum cultivation temperature and to assess the impact of temperature stress on garlic. In the early stages of growth, plant growth increased markedly with temperature. At harvest time, however, the pseudostem diameter decreased significantly under a relatively low day/night temperature range ($14/10-17/12^{\circ}C$), suggesting that these temperature conditions favor regular bulb growth. At harvest time, the bulb diameter and height were great at $14/10-23/18^{\circ}C$, whereas the bulb fresh weight and number of cloves per bulb were greatest at $17/12-20/15^{\circ}C$. However, the number of regularly developed cloves per bulb was highest at the relatively low temperature range of $14/10-17/12^{\circ}C$, as were the clove length and fresh weight. The photochemical efficiency ($F_v/F_m$) and potential photochemical efficiency ($F_v/F_o$) of photosystem II in the leaves of garlic plants were higher at $14/10-20/15^{\circ}C$ and lower at temperatures below $14/10^{\circ}C$ or above $20/15^{\circ}C$, implying that the $14/10-20/15^{\circ}C$ temperature range is favorable, whereas temperatures outside this range are stressful for garlic growth. Furthermore, at temperatures above $20/15^{\circ}C$, secondary growth of garlic, defined as lateral bud differentiation into secondary plants, continuous growth of the cloves of the primary plants, or the growth of bulbil buds into secondary plants, was enhanced. Therefore, to achieve commercial production of fresh scapes and bulbs of garlic, it may be better to grow garlic at relatively low temperature ranges of $14/10-17/12^{\circ}C$.