The evolution of photosynthetic capacity and the antioxidant enzymatic system during acclimatization of micropropagated Calathea plants

The effects of an increased PPFD on photosynthesis, the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus and the response of the antioxidant enzymatic system were studied during the ex vitro establishment of micropropagated Calathea 'Maui Queen' plantlets. Measured chlorophyll and carotenoids contents in ex vitro formed leaves were almost three times higher compared to the in vitro formed ones. At the end of the acclimatization, an inverse relation between PPFD and the chlorophyll (a+b)/carotenoids ratio was observed. During the first days after transplantation Calathea plants are not photosynthetically active, as is illustrated by the photosynthetic light response curves. With the appearance of new leaves, higher photosynthetic capacities were observed and light saturation point increased (days 17 and 25). Also the maximal photosynthetic efficiency enlarged as shown by the increased initial slope of the curves. F(v)/F(m) decreased directly after transplantation of the micropropagated plantlets, afterwards a recovery was observed, but highest F(v)/F(m) values were observed in low light (LL) plants. The photochemical quenching coefficient increased gradually during the first two weeks of the acclimatization. In high light (HL) plants, q(P) decreased directly after transfer, while this was not observed in LL and medium light (ML). During the acclimatization period to increasing light intensities significant changes in the activity of the antioxidant enzymatic system were observed. A decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was measured during the first half of the acclimatization period followed by a recovery in ML and HL plants by day 35. Dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) activity decreased during acclimatization. At the end of the experimental period the lowest levels were measured in ML plants. Catalase (CAT) activity increased significantly during the first two weeks after transfer, a clear inverse relationship to PPFD was detected. The relation between the adquisition of full photosynthetic capacity and the activation of the enzymatic antioxidant system in the leaves of calathea plants during ex vitro acclimatization is discussed.