Photosystem development in dark-grown lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) seedlings

It is well known that no chlorophyll synthesis and photosystem biogenesis have been detected in dark-grown angiosperm seedlings. However, in this report, we showed that both PS II and PS I could be formed in dark-grown lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) seedlings. Lots of evidence were given: First I during the dark-grown period, the single fluorescence emission peak at 679 nm in lotus embryo red-shifted and transformed into the normal PS II fluorescence emission; Simultaneously, PS I fluorescence emission at 730 nm appeared and increased obviously; Second, with partial denaturing SDS-PAGE method, PS I chlorophyll-protein complex could be clearly separated from 10 days dark-grown lotus seedlings; Third, the existence of Lhca1 was also proved by Western blots. Moreover, measurements of electron transfer rate demonstrated that both PS II and PS I core in dark-grown lotus seedlings were photochemically active.