The protective role of xanthophyll cycle in resurrection angiosperm Boea hygrometrica during dehydration and rehydration

The protective role of xanthophyll cycle in resurrection angiosperm Boea hygrometrica (Bunge) R.Br. was investigated by analysis of the changes of chlorophyll fluorescence and xanthophyll cycle components in response to dehydration and rehydration in detached leaves under very weak light condition (3 mumol photons.m(-2).s(-1)) and in the dark. With declines in the values of PSII photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), PSII actual quantum yield (Phi(PSII)), photochemical quenching (qP) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) during dehydration, zeaxanthin significantly increased in control Boea leaves under very weak light condition, while no zeaxanthin accumulation was detected in Boea leaves treated with dithiothreitol (DTT) and Boea leaves in the dark, and after 3 d rehydration, the parameters Fv/Fm, Phi(PSII), qP and NPQ showed full recovery in control Boea leaves under very weak light condition, but the parameters only underwent partial recovery in Boea leaves treated with DTT and Boea leaves in the dark, suggesting that the recovery of photosystem II (PSII) photochemical activities in Boea leaves was obviously affected by treatments with DTT and darkness, therefore, zeaxanthin may play an important protective role in desiccated Boea leaves even under very weak light conditions.