About Book

Photosynthesis is the process used by plants, algae and certain bacteria to harness energy from sunlight into chemical energy. It is one example of how people and plants are dependent on each other in sustaining life. Photosynthesis provides us with most of the oxygen we need in order to breathe. We, in turn, exhale the carbon dioxide needed by plants. Plants are also crucial to human life because we rely on them as a source of food for ourselves and for the animals that we eat. In addition to the current applications, Photosynthesis-based technology could also include using the concept of efficient “energy capture” to our artificial systems just as plants have been doing: thousands of chlorophyll a molecules (antenna) serving one centre where the process occurs efficiently; the use of compounds, produced by plants, in triggering reactions that kill cancer cells; and the use of photosynthetic organisms in cleaning of aqueous surface environments (lakes, etc). An excellent example is in the use of cyanobacteria that literally eat up the nitrates from ground water and clear it for us. The opportunities that photosynthesis-based technology provides us are enormous. This process is extremely important for life on earth as it provides the oxygen that all other life depends on. This book elucidates the concepts and innovative models around prospective developments with respect to photosynthesis. It provides detailed information about photosynthetic source-sink, mechanisms of photoacclimation, fluorescence technique, light reactions, polyamines, quantum yield, biospheric carbon and carbon metabolism. The aim of the book is to familiarize the readers with the processes associated with it. Most of the topics introduced in this book are of utmost importance to gain understanding about the topic. Coherent flow of topics, student-friendly language and extensive use of examples make this book an invaluable source of knowledge. The topics covered in this book offer the readers new insights in the field of photosynthesis.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Photosynthesis and Carbon Metabolism..............................................1

Abstract...................................................................................................1

1. Light energy...........................................................................................1

2. The Calvin cycle (dark reactions)......................................................5

Chapter 2 Photosynthesis in Global Cycle of Biospheric Carbon.....................8

Abstract ..................................................................................................8

1. Introduction............................................................................................9

2. Two geological concepts supporting natural redox carbon cycle

hypothesis The suggested mechanism of the cycle

functioning............................................................................................11

3. Isotope data support the idea on organic carbon oxidation in

subduction zone during orogenic period.......................................16

4. The effect of redox carbon cycle on the climate in the past.....18

5. The impact of redox carbon cycle on the rate of biodiversity..19

6. Irregular periodicity in organic carbon accumulation in sediments

is the reason for uneven stratigraphic distribution of sediments

rich in organic matter and oils.........................................................20

7. 13C enrichment of oils reflects O2 growth in the atmosphere

and display four orogenic cycles from the Cryogenian period of

Neoproterozoic era to the Miocene epoch of Cenozoic era.......24

8. Ecological compensation point.........................................................25

9. Conclusions..........................................................................................27

Chapter 3 Photosynthesis in Extreme Environments .........................................34

1. Introduction..........................................................................................34

2. Photosynthetic extremophiles ..........................................................35

3. Photosynthesis in extreme environments .....................................39

4. Conclusion .........................................................................................49

Chapter 4 A Review: Polyamines and Photosynthesis.......................................57

1. Introduction ............................................................................... 57

2. Effect of polyamines on photosynthesis ................................. 61

3. Polyamines and stress photosynthesis............................................67

4. Conclusion ...........................................................................................75

5. Acknowledgement .............................................................................80

Chapter 5 Photosynthesis and Quantum Yield of Oil Palm Seedlings to

Elevated Carbon Dioxide........................................................................92

1. Introduction..........................................................................................92

2. Factors limiting photosynthetic rates ............................................94

3. Quantum yield ...................................................................................95

4. C3 species response to elevated CO2 .............................................97

5. Photosynthetic and quantum yield up-regulation under elevated

CO2 ........................................................................................................98

6. Environmental factors determining the response of photosynthesis

to elevated [CO2] ................................................................... 100

7. Oil palm responses to elevated CO2 ............................................102

8. Conclusion .........................................................................................108

9. Acknowledgment ...........................................................................109

Chapter 6 Photosynthesis in Lichen: Light Reactions and Protective

Mechanisms..............................................................................................117

1. Introduction........................................................................................117

2. Methods for isolating lichen photobionts....................................119

3. Effects of water content on the carbon budget of lichens........121

4. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive

nitrogen species (RNS) during desiccation/rehydration............123

5. Mechanisms of light energy dissipation in lichen algae...........126

6. Antioxidant systems in lichen algae.............................................132

7. Conclusion..........................................................................................135

8. Acknowledgment..............................................................................135

Chapter 7 Photosynthesis in Microalgae as Measured with Delayed

Fluorescence Technique .......................................................................153

1. Introduction........................................................................................153

2. Basic characteristics of delayed fluorescence decay kinetics ..155

3. Modelling of delayed fluorescence kinetics ...............................159

4. Physiology .........................................................................................162

5. Conclusions .......................................................................................172

6. Acknowledgements .........................................................................172

Chapter 8 Mechanisms of Photoacclimation on Photosynthesis Level in Cyanobacteria...........................................................................................177

1. Introduction........................................................................................177

2. Light as a major factor controlling distribution, growth and

functionality of photoautotrophic organisms..............................178

3. Photosynthesis and light response curves...................................180

4. Photoacclimation strategies in two strains of cyanobacteria:

Planktonic Nodularia spumigena and benthic Geitlerinema

amphibium.........................................................................................181

5. Conclusions .......................................................................................189

Chapter 9 Photosynthesis: How and Why? ........................................................193

1. Introduction........................................................................................193

2. Why is photosynthesis important? ..............................................201

Chapter 10 Regulation of Leaf Photosynthesis Through Photosynthetic Source-Sink Balance in Soybean Plants.........................................................203

1. Introduction........................................................................................203

2. Materials and methods....................................................................206

3. Results.................................................................................................208

4. Discussion .........................................................................................214

5. Conclusion..........................................................................................219

Citation......................................................................................................225

Index...........................................................................................................227

About Author

Elsa Petrica pursued her Masters in Biochemistry from Public Research University, Algarve. She is actively engaged in the researches focused on photosynthetic membranes, pheophytin and photolysis. She is serving as a Research Scientist at Technical Institute, Mons. Petrica has authored and edited numerous articles, journal papers and book chapters, which have been published worldwide. She also works as an editorial assistant and writer for a scientific journal and textbook publication. She has been the recipient of two awards for his research work in the field of photosynthesis.