New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

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Photoprotective pigments in red and green gametophytes of two New Zealand liverworts

C. A. M. Hooijmaijers

School of Biological Sciences
University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019
Auckland 1142, New Zealand

Kevin S. Gould*

Department of Botany
University of Otago
PO Box 56
Dunedin 9054, New Zealand

*Author for correspondence
kevin.gould@botany.otago.ac.nz

Abstract Gametophytes of Jamesoniella colorata (Jungermanniaceae) and Isotachis lyallii (Isotachidaceae) produce red leaves in exposed habitats, but green leaves in shaded environments. To understand the functional significance of this colour polymorphism, the anatomy, pigment composition, optical properties, and kinetics of chlorophyll a fluorescence were compared for red and green gametophytes. Both colour morphs were structurally similar, but the red leaves held unidentified red pigment(s) firmly associated with the cell wall. Green morphs contained more chlorophylls and carotenoids, and had higher ratios of chlorophylls to carotenoids, than did the red morphs. Red leaves absorbed 10% more photosynthetically active radiation, with a maximum at 540 nm, than did the green leaves. Under high irradiance, the red leaves maintained higher apparent quantum efficiencies for photosynthesis, and had larger photochemical and non-photochemical quenching values. The data indicate that red gametophytes have the greater potential to mitigate the damaging effects of high irradiance.

Keywords Jamesoniella colorata; Isotachis l­yallii; red pigment; chlorophyll; carotenoid; photo­protection; optical properties

B07009 : Online publication date 10 July 2007; Received 5 April 2007; accepted 12 June 2007

New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2007, Vol. 45: 451–461
0028–825X/07/4503–0451 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2007

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