The photosynthetic apparatus of the CAM plant Tillandsia flabellate and its response to water deficit

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2023.153945
• Publication Date: 2023-02-13T16:33:04Z
• Authors: Chen Hu; Vincenzo Mascoli; Eduard Elias; Roberta Croce
• Keywords: Photoinhibition

CAM plants are superior to C3 in drought resistance because of their peculiar photosynthesis pathway and morphological features. While those aspects have been studied for decades, little is known about the photosynthetic machinery plants. Here, we used a combination biochemical biophysical methods study apparatus Tillandsia flabellate, an obligatory plant. Most Photosystems super- sub-complexes properties very similar Arabidopsis, with main difference that PSI-LHCI complexes bind extra LHCI. Functional measurements show PSI/PSII ratio rather low compared other antenna size both PSI PSII small. Upon 30-day water deficiency, composition photosystems does not change significantly, efficiency remains high no Photosystem II photoinhibition was detected despite reduction non-photochemical quenching (NPQ).