Abiotic Stress Responses in Photosynthetic Systems
Summary
Photosynthetic organisms face a variety of abiotic stressors—such as high light intensity, extreme temperatures, salinity, drought and heavy metal exposure—that disrupt the delicate balance of light capture, energy conversion and carbon fixation. At the heart of these responses lie the thylakoid‐based photosystems, pigment–protein complexes that channel absorbed photons into chemical energy. Under stress, overexcitation of photosystems leads to production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing oxidative damage to lipids, proteins and pigments. To cope, plants deploy photoprotective mechanisms including non‐photochemical quenching, antioxidant scavenging and dynamic adjustments in antenna size. Stress‐induced reprogramming of gene expression, mediated by photoreceptors and stress‐responsive transcription factors, orchestrates repair of photosystem II (PSII) reaction centres, remodelling of the light‐harvesting apparatus and optimisation of the Calvin cycle. Cross‐talk among signalling pathways—abscisic acid, salicylic acid and calcium‐dependent kinases—further modulates stomatal conductance and osmotic balance. Recent advances have elucidated how modulation of light quality and spectral composition can prime protective responses, while exogenous applications of bio-stimulants or micronutrients enhance resilience. Understanding these integrated responses provides a blueprint for engineering crops with enhanced tolerance and sustained productivity under increasingly variable environmental conditions.
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Abiotic Stress Responses in Photosynthetic Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in abiotic stress responses in photosynthetic systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Photosystem II (PSII): A thylakoid pigment–protein complex that catalyses water splitting and initiates electron transport.
Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ): A protective process that dissipates excess excitation energy as heat to prevent oxidative damage.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive oxygen derivatives formed under stress that can damage cellular components.
Thylakoid membrane: Internal chloroplast membrane hosting the photosynthetic light reactions and proton gradient formation.
Pigment–protein complex: Assembly of chlorophylls, carotenoids and proteins that capture light and facilitate energy transfer.
Photoreceptor: A molecule (e.g. cryptochrome, phytochrome) that senses light quality or intensity and regulates stress responses.
Calvin cycle: The enzymatic pathway in chloroplast stroma that fixes atmospheric CO₂ into carbohydrates.
References
- The Role of Pigments and Cryptochrome 1 in the Adaptation of Solanum lycopersicum Photosynthetic Apparatus to High-Intensity Blue Light. Antioxidants (2024).
- Impact of Salinity on the Energy Transfer between Pigment–Protein Complexes in Photosynthetic Apparatus, Functions of the Oxygen-Evolving Complex and Photochemical Activities of Photosystem II and Photosystem I in Two Paulownia Lines. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- Mechanisms Regulating the Dynamics of Photosynthesis Under Abiotic Stresses. Frontiers in Plant Science (2021).
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