Figure 7
Photosynthetic activity and de-etiolation of plants with enhanced or reduced VQ1 and VQ10 gene expression. The maximum quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) and effective quantum yield of PSII reaction centers (ΦPSII) of (A) overexpressing plants or (B) expressing amiRs (between 10 and 15 replicates) of the indicated genotypes was measured after incubation of plants under darkness for 20 min before being exposed to a flash of actinic light (2000 µmol m−2 s−1). Box plots are shown displaying the median (horizontal bar inside the box), and the error interval. (C) De-etiolation process was assessed by measuring the total chlorophyll content in seedlings (three replicates) of the indicated genotypes. Seed germination was activated by a 6 h light exposure, then seedlings grew skotomorphogenically under darkness for 3 days, and finally were re-exposed to light for 24 h before chlorophyll quantification. (D) Representative images of rosettes from the indicated genotypes. (E) Representative images of etiolated seedlings after de-etiolation for Col-0 and the genotypes with significant reduction in chlorophyll synthesis. White bars in panels (D) and (E) represent 2 mm. Statistical significance was assessed by unpaired t-test comparing each genotype to Col-0. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.005; and ***p < 0.001.
