The aim of this monograph is to highlight various mechanisms followed by plants to overcome the high light stress and photoinhibition, and also the plant responses to low light levels. Emphasis has been on the regulation of light harvesting process, the avoidance phenomena at leaf and chloroplast levels and the strategy followed by certa in solar tracking plants in maximizing the light interception without photoinhibitory damage, leading to improvement of diurnal photosynthetic rate. Plant adjustment to light variations over a long term, through the acclimation process brought about by changes in gene function and specific reconstruction of chloroplast has also been discussed. Although the emphasis has been on higher plant systems, green algae and cyanobacterial examples are used wherever appropriate. This book will be a useful reference to advanced postgraduate students, research scientists and teachers interested in the area of photosynthesis research.
Light Interception
Basics and Structural Aspects
Introduction
Light Harvesting
Structure and Role of Antennae
Composition of Photosystems
Photosystem II: Composition and Structure
Photosystem I: Structure and Organization
Photoinhibition: Introduction
Occurrence of Photoinhibition
Photoinhibition of Photosystem II
Photoinactivation
Degradation of D1 Protein
Photoinhibition of PS I
Photoprotection: Introduction
Thermal Dissipation of Excitation Energy
Xanthophyll Cycle
Additional Electron Sinks
Leaf Helitoropism
Solar Tracking and Regulation of Light Harvesting
Introduction
Paraheliotropism and Significance
Diaheliotropism
Leaf Heliotropism and Photosystem II Efficiency
Site of Perception and Mechanism of Leaf Movements
Acclimation of Photosynthesis to Light Environment
Introduction
Regulation
Acclimation to Irradiance Levels
Acclimation in Mature Levels
Acclimation to Changing Light Regime
Transgenics and Biotechnological Approaches
Introduction
Photosystems: Reaction Centres
Light Harvesting Antennae
Photoinhibition
Transgenics
Functional Genomics of Plant Photosynthesis
Biography
Das, V S R
