title: Internal and external factors affecting photosynthetic pigment composition in plants: a meta-analytical approach.
abstract: Photosynthetic pigment composition has been a major study target in plant ecophysiology during the last three decades. Although more than 2000 papers have been published, a comprehensive evaluation of the responses of photosynthetic pigment composition to environmental conditions is not yet available. After an extensive survey, we compiled data from 525 papers including 809 species (subkingdom Viridiplantae) in which pigment composition was described. A meta-analysis was then conducted to assess the ranges of photosynthetic pigment content. Calculated frequency distributions of pigments were compared with those expected from the theoretical pigment composition. Responses to environmental factors were also analysed. The results revealed that lutein and xanthophyll cycle pigments (VAZ) were highly responsive to the environment, emphasizing the high phenotypic plasticity of VAZ, whereas neoxanthin was very stable. The present meta-analysis supports the existence of relatively narrow limits for pigment ratios and also supports the presence of a pool of free 'unbound' VAZ. Results from this study provide highly reliable ranges of photosynthetic pigment contents as a framework for future research on plant pigments.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agrobiotechnology, IdAB-CSIC-UPNA-Government of Navarre, E-31192, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), c/ Sarriena s/n; apdo. 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Oihana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Barrutia
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), c/ Sarriena s/n; apdo. 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Unai
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Artetxe
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), c/ Sarriena s/n; apdo. 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain.|Institute of Botany and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Sternwartestraße 15, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fernández-Marín
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), c/ Sarriena s/n; apdo. 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), c/ Sarriena s/n; apdo. 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: José Ignacio
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: García-Plazaola
mesh_terms: D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D014975:Lutein / Q000378:metabolism*; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010860:Pigments, Biological; D024341:Xanthophylls; D002338:Carotenoids; D014975:Lutein
keywords: environmental modulation; irradiance; meta-analytical approach; nonstressed; phenotypic plasticity index (PI); photosynthetic pigments