Plant Light Stress

Keishi Osakabe, Saitama University, Shimo‐Okubo, Sakura‐ku, Saitama, Japan
Yuriko Osakabe, RIKEN Plant Science Center, Suehiro‐cho, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan

Published online: December 2012

DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0001319.pub2

Plants produce their own energy and metabolites via photosynthesis. Although photosynthesis requires sunlight, the very nature of sunlight also has a negative effect on photosynthesis. Plants have therefore evolved various protective and response mechanisms to mitigate the negative effects of light stress.

Key Concepts:

  • Photosynthesis causes a potential risk of photodamage.
  • Excess light and ultraviolet irradiation from sunlight lead to increased production of ROS, which cause photo-oxidative damage.
  • Plants have evolved protective and response mechanisms against photodamage.
  • ROS can be utilised as a signalling molecule for response against light stress as well as other abiotic and biotic stresses.

Keywords: excess light; photodamage; photosynthesis; reactive oxygen species; ultraviolet irradiation

Figure 1. Schematic presentation of the sensing and responses to excess light and UV-B light stresses. Light stresses are perceived by photoreceptors and cause changes in metabolite biosynthesis, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and redox state. Downstream pathways are activated and control the plant responses such as gene activation, enzyme activity, nonphotochemical quenching, biosynthesis of antioxidants and chloroplast and leaf movements.
Figure 2. Plant photoprotection in excess light stress and the environmental stress responses in plants. Photodamaged PSII is repaired by ROS scavenging, pH-dependent qE, and photorespiration in chloroplasts. Stomatal closure, ROS production and metabolic changes under environmental stress affect these repair mechanisms.
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Plant Stress Physiology
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Article Title: Plant Light Stress
 
How to Cite close
Osakabe, Keishi, and Osakabe, Yuriko(Dec 2012) Plant Light Stress. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0001319.pub2]