Chloroplast movements in fern leaves: correlation of movement dynamics and environmental flexibility of the species

Abstract

The movements of chloroplasts in response to varying levels and wavelengths of incident light were investigated in leaves of four fern species: Adiantum capillus-veneris, Adiantum caudatum, Adiantum diaphanum and Pteris cretica. In all of the species studied blue light induced chloroplast redistribution resulting in face and profile patterns that were typical of low and high fluence rates, respectively. Fluence rate response characteristics and the kinetics of transmission changes accompanying these blue-lightinduced movements were similar to those observed in the leaves of higher plants. Only in A. capillus-veneris was the distribution of chloroplasts affected by red light. The response was of the weak-light type, irrespective of the light intensity. The most effective fluence rate for red light was found to be below 7·2 m mmol m -2 s -1 (1 W m -2 ). The effect of red light was far-red reversible, indicating phytochrome involvement. Chloroplast responses were more dynamic in A. capillus-veneris and P. cretica, the two species that exhibited higher environmental flexibility.

Phototropic leaf movements and photosynthetic performance in an amphibious fern, Marsilea quadrifolia

“…Therefore, the F v /F m values measured from leaflets of M. quadrifolia were unlikely to be modified by chloroplast movement. Thus, in addition to the occurrence of chloroplast movement, which has been found in some ferns (for reviews see Zurzycki 1980;Wada and Kadota 1989;Haupt and Scheuerlein 1990; see also Augustynowicz and Gabryś 1999;Kawai et al 2003), diurnal phototropic leaf movement provides another mechanism for the adjustment of light distribution in fern species.…”

Photoprotective function of chloroplast avoidance movement: In vivo chlorophyll fluorescence study

“…Light-induced chloroplast movements occur in many plant species, especially in those that have the potential to adapt to different light environments (Augustynowicz and Gabrys, 1999). In dark-adapted leaves, chloroplasts are located along all cell walls; their distribution is not uniform and depends on light conditions during growth (Trojan and Gabrys, 1996).…”

A Plant-Specific Protein Essential for Blue-Light-Induced Chloroplast Movements

“…However, their relative importance can be species specific, indicating that some of these responses represent unique adaptive strategies. Another perhaps more ubiquitous plant response to varying light conditions is light-induced chloroplast movement, which has been documented in a large number of species, including alga, moss, ferns, and angiosperms (Zurzycki, 1961;Inoue and Shibata, 1973;Lechowski, 1974;Brugnoli and Bjö rkman, 1992;Dong et al, 1996;Parks et al, 1996;Trojan and Gabrys, 1996;Augustynowicz and Gabrys, 1999;Gorton et al, 1999;Kagawa and Wada, 1999;Kadota et al, 2000). In alga, moss, and ferns, chloroplast migration is induced by both red light (RL) and blue light (BL) (Kagawa and Wada, 1994;Kadota et al, 2000).…”