Photochemical functioning of Dracocephalum kotschyi ecotypes under UVB

Subject Areas : Stress Physiology

Zahra Mottaki ¹ , Ghader Habibi ^{2 *} , Abbas Gholipour ³ , Tahmineh Lohrasebi ⁴

1 - . Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
2 - . Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
4 - Plant Molecular Genetics, Plant Bioproducts Department, National Institute for Genetic Engineering

Received: 2025-02-10 Accepted : 2025-04-03 Published : 2025-05-11

Keywords: altitudinal gradient, Dracocephalum kotschyi, photochemical activity, UVB radiation,

Abstract :

The objective of the present study was to determine the efficacy of chlorophyll fluorescence analysis and to understand the specific photosynthetic parameters for detection of UVB radiation and high light (HL)-induced stress in Dracocephalum kotschyi plants under low and high altitudes. Seeds of high (3,300 m) and low (2,600 m) altitude ecotypes of D. kotschyi were sown in a growth chamber. Following a 3-month acclimation period, independent pots were chosen and exposed to light intensities including 400 and HL (800 µmol m^-2 s^-1) as well as with two levels of UVB (15 and 30 kJ m^-2 d^-1) for further 10 days. High altitude plants displayed more protection to photoinhibition in comparison to low-altitude plants. Under combined stress, only in high altitude plants, the levels of carotenoids correlated well with the maximal quantum yield of photosystem II (F_v/F_m), suggesting that the accumulation of antioxidant metabolites including carotenoids play a key role in enhancing resistance to stresses. Under combined stress condition, low-altitude plants exhibited the occurrence of photoinhibition, which was assessed by the analysis of F_v/F_m. Additionally, in low-altitude plants, under combined stress, IP-phases from the OJIP curve decreased due to a decrease in electron transport towards PSI. To sum up, this study explored the key OJIP parameters that can be used for distinguishing primary mode of action of HL and UVB on photosystem II in different D. kotschyi populations.

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