title: Three causes of variation in the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) in evergreen conifers.
abstract: The photochemical reflectance index (PRI) reflects diurnal xanthophyll cycle activity and is also influenced by seasonally changing carotenoid : Chl pigment ratios. Both changing pigment pools and xanthophyll cycle activity contribute to photoprotection in evergreen conifers exposed to boreal winters, but they operate over different timescales, and their relative contribution to the PRI signal has often been unclear. To clarify these responses and their contribution to the PRI signal, leaf PRI, pigment composition, temperature and irradiance were monitored over 2 yr for two evergreen conifers (Pinus contorta and Pinus ponderosa) in a boreal climate. PRI was affected by three distinct processes operating over different timescales and exhibiting contrasting spectral responses. Over the 2 yr study period, the greatest change in PRI resulted from seasonally changing carotenoid : Chl pigment ratios, followed by a previously unreported shifting leaf albedo during periods of deep cold. Remarkably, the smallest change was attributable to the xanthophyll cycle. To properly distinguish these three effects, interpretation of PRI must consider temporal context, physiological responses to evolving environmental conditions, and spectral response. Consideration of the separate mechanisms affecting PRI over different timescales could greatly improve efforts to monitor changing photosynthetic activity using optical remote sensing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada.
authors.forename: Christopher Y S
authors.initials: CYS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada.|Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gamon
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D002980:Climate; D003080:Cold Temperature; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D010777:Photochemistry; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D028223:Pinus / Q000502:physiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000502:physiology; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D024341:Xanthophylls; D002734:Chlorophyll; D002338:Carotenoids
keywords: acclimation; carotenoid : Chl ratios; cold stress; conifers; leaf pigments; photochemical reflectance index (PRI); photosynthetic down-regulation; xanthophyll cycle