Daily xanthophyll cycle photoprotection in developing leaves prior to photosynthesis

Abstract

There is widespread agreement that the xanthophyll cycle provides a major photoprotection system for photosynthesis in green leaves.Indeed this type of photoprotection seem to be ubiquitous for photosynthetic organisms. Photoprotection is provided via a rapid, near 10-13 sec, ability of zeaxanthin (Z) to dissipate excess light energy from photosynthesis because the energy of the excited singlet state of Z is lower than that of chlorophyll a.

Citation

Angelov, M.N.; Sung, Shi-Jean S.; Black, C.C. 1995. Daily xanthophyll cycle photoprotection in developing leaves prior to photosynthesis. Pages 25-29 in Proc. Photoinhibition, Photoprotection, and Crop Productivity, Guangdong Society of Plant Physiology, China.