A new mechanistic understanding of light-limitation in the seagrass Zostera muelleri

Davey, Peter A., Pernice, Mathieu, Ashworth, Justin, Kuzhiumparambil, Unnikrishnan, Szabó, Milán, Dolferus, Rudy, and Ralph, Peter J. (2018) A new mechanistic understanding of light-limitation in the seagrass Zostera muelleri. Marine Environmental Research, 134. pp. 55-67.

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DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.12.012

View at Publisher Website: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2017...

Abstract

In this study we investigated the effect of light-limitation (∼20 μmol photons m−2 s−1) on the southern hemisphere seagrass, Zostera muelleri. RNA sequencing, chlorophyll fluorometry and HPLC techniques were used to investigate how the leaf-specific transcriptome drives changes in photosynthesis and photo-pigments in Z. muelleri over 6 days. 1593 (7.51%) genes were differentially expressed on day 2 and 1481 (6.98%) genes were differentially expressed on day 6 of the experiment. Differential gene expression correlated with significant decreases in rETRMax, Ik, an increase in Yi (initial photosynthetic quantum yield of photosystem II), and significant changes in pigment composition. Regulation of carbohydrate metabolism was observed along with evidence that abscisic acid may serve a role in the low-light response of this seagrass. This study provides a novel understanding of how Z. muelleri responds to light-limitation in the marine water column and provides potential molecular markers for future conservation monitoring efforts.


Item ID:	51912
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1879-0291
Keywords:	seagrass; RNA-sequencing; light-limitation; photophysiology; Zostera muelleri; transcriptome; gene expression
Funders:	University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
Projects and Grants:	CSIRO Office of the Chief Executive scholarship
Date Deposited:	08 Jan 2018 01:29
FoR Codes:	31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3108 Plant biology > 310806 Plant physiology @ 40% 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) @ 40% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4101 Climate change impacts and adaptation > 410199 Climate change impacts and adaptation not elsewhere classified @ 20%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960808 Marine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 50% 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9603 Climate and Climate Change > 960307 Effects of Climate Change and Variability on Australia (excl. Social Impacts) @ 50%
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