Photoinhibition and photooxidation in leaves of indica and japonica rice under different temperatures and light intensities

Physiological indices related to the efficiency (F-v/F-m) of light energy conversion in PS II and the peroxidation of membrane lipid were measured in leaves of Oryza sativa L. sp. indica rice cv. "Shanyou 63" and sp. japonica rice cv. "9516"' under different temperatures and fight intensities for 4 days. No changes in F-v/F-m and membrane lipid peroxidation product (MDA) were observed, so neither photoinhibition nor photooxidation happened in both rice cultivars under moderate temperature and medium light intensity. However, F-v/F-m dropped obviously with no change in MDA contents, and photoinhibition appeared in indica rice cv. "Shanyou 63" under medium temperature and strong light intensity. Furthermore, both photoinhibition and photooxidation were observed in two rice cultivars under chilling temperature and strong light intensity. Experiments with inhibitors under chilling temperature and strong light intensity showed that indica rice had a decrease in DI protein content and SOD activity, and the extent of inhibition of xanthophyll. cycle and nonphotochemical quenching (qN) was larger, and a higher level of MDA was observed. The photoinhibition and photooxidation in indica rice were more distinct as compared with japonica rice. The authors suggested that PS II light energy conversion efficiency (F-v/F-m) and membrane lipid peroxidation were the key indices for the detection of photooxidation.