Characteristic patterns of chronic and dynamic photoinhibition of different functional groups in a Mediterranean ecosystem

Abstract

To analyse characteristic patterns of dynamic and chronic photoinhibition within a plant community, a new technique is proposed, which is based on the long- and short-term recovery time of maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (F _v/F _m) after environmental stress. Chronic photoinhibition was determined as a sustainable decrease in predawn F _v/F _m, occurring during periods of prolonged stress, whereas dynamic photoinhibition was assessed from the fully reversible diurnal decline in F _v/F _m. Applied to a Mediterranean macchia ecosystem, this definition allowed the characterization of typical annual patterns of chronic and dynamic photoinhibition. Both types of photoinhibition were highest during summer drought. However, differences emerged among the ten dominant macchia species regarding their susceptibility to chronic photoinhibition during different seasons. Chronic and dynamic photoinhibition were dependent on leaf orientation. Semi-deciduous species avoided enhanced chronic photoinhibition through a reduction of excessive light interception by vertical foliage orientation during summer, whereas evergreen sclerophylls did not exhibit pronounced structural photoprotective mechanisms. Chronic and total photoinhibition were significantly correlated with predawn and midday water potentials, respectively, and a grouping of the macchia species into three functional groups is proposed according to this relationship.