Photoprotective Role of Photosynthetic and Non-Photosynthetic Pigments in <i>Phillyrea latifolia</i>: Is Their “Antioxidant” Function Prominent in Leaves Exposed to Severe Summer Drought?
Carotenoids and phenylpropanoids play a dual role of limiting and countering photooxidative stress. We hypothesize that their “antioxidant” function is prominent in plants exposed to summer drought, when climatic conditions exacerbate the light stress. To test this, we conducted a field study on <...
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/15/8303 |
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| author | Antonella Gori Cecilia Brunetti Luana Beatriz dos Santos Nascimento Giovanni Marino Lucia Guidi Francesco Ferrini Mauro Centritto Alessio Fini Massimiliano Tattini |
| author_facet | Antonella Gori Cecilia Brunetti Luana Beatriz dos Santos Nascimento Giovanni Marino Lucia Guidi Francesco Ferrini Mauro Centritto Alessio Fini Massimiliano Tattini |
| author_sort | Antonella Gori |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Carotenoids and phenylpropanoids play a dual role of limiting and countering photooxidative stress. We hypothesize that their “antioxidant” function is prominent in plants exposed to summer drought, when climatic conditions exacerbate the light stress. To test this, we conducted a field study on <i>Phillyrea latifolia</i>, a Mediterranean evergreen shrub, carrying out daily physiological and biochemical analyses in spring and summer. We also investigated the functional role of the major phenylpropanoids in different leaf tissues. Summer leaves underwent the most severe drought stress concomitantly with a reduction in radiation use efficiency upon being exposed to intense photooxidative stress, particularly during the central hours of the day. In parallel, a significant daily variation in both carotenoids and phenylpropanoids was observed. Our data suggest that the morning-to-midday increase in zeaxanthin derived from the hydroxylation of ß-carotene to sustain non-photochemical quenching and limit lipid peroxidation in thylakoid membranes. We observed substantial spring-to-summer and morning-to-midday increases in quercetin and luteolin derivatives, mostly in the leaf mesophyll. These findings highlight their importance as antioxidants, countering the drought-induced photooxidative stress. We concluded that seasonal and daily changes in photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic pigments may allow <i>P. latifolia</i> leaves to avoid irreversible photodamage and to cope successfully with the Mediterranean harsh climate. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:14:21Z |
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| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:14:21Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-b96759d055404df1ab1f9d30bc2992b32023-11-22T05:46:23ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-08-012215830310.3390/ijms22158303Photoprotective Role of Photosynthetic and Non-Photosynthetic Pigments in <i>Phillyrea latifolia</i>: Is Their “Antioxidant” Function Prominent in Leaves Exposed to Severe Summer Drought?Antonella Gori0Cecilia Brunetti1Luana Beatriz dos Santos Nascimento2Giovanni Marino3Lucia Guidi4Francesco Ferrini5Mauro Centritto6Alessio Fini7Massimiliano Tattini8Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, ItalyInstitute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), National Research Council of Italy, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, ItalyInstitute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), National Research Council of Italy, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, ItalyInstitute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), National Research Council of Italy, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences—Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, ItalyInstitute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), National Research Council of Italy, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, ItalyCarotenoids and phenylpropanoids play a dual role of limiting and countering photooxidative stress. We hypothesize that their “antioxidant” function is prominent in plants exposed to summer drought, when climatic conditions exacerbate the light stress. To test this, we conducted a field study on <i>Phillyrea latifolia</i>, a Mediterranean evergreen shrub, carrying out daily physiological and biochemical analyses in spring and summer. We also investigated the functional role of the major phenylpropanoids in different leaf tissues. Summer leaves underwent the most severe drought stress concomitantly with a reduction in radiation use efficiency upon being exposed to intense photooxidative stress, particularly during the central hours of the day. In parallel, a significant daily variation in both carotenoids and phenylpropanoids was observed. Our data suggest that the morning-to-midday increase in zeaxanthin derived from the hydroxylation of ß-carotene to sustain non-photochemical quenching and limit lipid peroxidation in thylakoid membranes. We observed substantial spring-to-summer and morning-to-midday increases in quercetin and luteolin derivatives, mostly in the leaf mesophyll. These findings highlight their importance as antioxidants, countering the drought-induced photooxidative stress. We concluded that seasonal and daily changes in photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic pigments may allow <i>P. latifolia</i> leaves to avoid irreversible photodamage and to cope successfully with the Mediterranean harsh climate.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/15/8303carotenoidsdihydroxy B-ring-substituted flavonoidsdrought stressepidermal and mesophyll flavonoidshydroxycinnamatesphotoprotection |
| spellingShingle | Antonella Gori Cecilia Brunetti Luana Beatriz dos Santos Nascimento Giovanni Marino Lucia Guidi Francesco Ferrini Mauro Centritto Alessio Fini Massimiliano Tattini Photoprotective Role of Photosynthetic and Non-Photosynthetic Pigments in <i>Phillyrea latifolia</i>: Is Their “Antioxidant” Function Prominent in Leaves Exposed to Severe Summer Drought? International Journal of Molecular Sciences carotenoids dihydroxy B-ring-substituted flavonoids drought stress epidermal and mesophyll flavonoids hydroxycinnamates photoprotection |
| title | Photoprotective Role of Photosynthetic and Non-Photosynthetic Pigments in <i>Phillyrea latifolia</i>: Is Their “Antioxidant” Function Prominent in Leaves Exposed to Severe Summer Drought? |
| title_full | Photoprotective Role of Photosynthetic and Non-Photosynthetic Pigments in <i>Phillyrea latifolia</i>: Is Their “Antioxidant” Function Prominent in Leaves Exposed to Severe Summer Drought? |
| title_fullStr | Photoprotective Role of Photosynthetic and Non-Photosynthetic Pigments in <i>Phillyrea latifolia</i>: Is Their “Antioxidant” Function Prominent in Leaves Exposed to Severe Summer Drought? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Photoprotective Role of Photosynthetic and Non-Photosynthetic Pigments in <i>Phillyrea latifolia</i>: Is Their “Antioxidant” Function Prominent in Leaves Exposed to Severe Summer Drought? |
| title_short | Photoprotective Role of Photosynthetic and Non-Photosynthetic Pigments in <i>Phillyrea latifolia</i>: Is Their “Antioxidant” Function Prominent in Leaves Exposed to Severe Summer Drought? |
| title_sort | photoprotective role of photosynthetic and non photosynthetic pigments in i phillyrea latifolia i is their antioxidant function prominent in leaves exposed to severe summer drought |
| topic | carotenoids dihydroxy B-ring-substituted flavonoids drought stress epidermal and mesophyll flavonoids hydroxycinnamates photoprotection |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/15/8303 |
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