The involvement of LHCII-associated polyamines in the response of the photosynthetic apparatus to low temperature

The influence of low temperature on the structure and function of the photosynthetic apparatus was investigated in Phaseolus vulgaris L. Ten-day-old plants (grown at 26 °C) have been exposed to low temperature (6 °C) for 52 h and, then, transferred to the initial temperature (26 °C) for additional 30 h. Biochemical and physico-chemical measurements performed in the low temperature-treated plants showed that the response of the photosynthetic apparatus to low temperature is affected by the changes occurring in the pattern of LHCII-associated putrescine (Put) and spermine (Spm) which adjust the size of LHCII. The decrease of Put/Spm ratio, mainly due to the reduction in the quantity of LHCII-associated Put led to an increase of the LHCII, especially of the oligomeric forms. These alterations in the structure of the photosynthetic apparatus combined with the reduction in the photosynthetic electron transfer rate resulted in the inactivation of active reaction centers and the increase of dissipated energy which diminished the photosynthetic efficiency and the maximal photosynthetic rate. The transfer of plants at 26 °C after the low temperature treatment showed that, structurally and functionally, the photosynthetic mechanism recovered quite fast to the initial condition.