Plants in nearly all growth environments absorb more light energy than they can utilize in support of photosynthetic CO2 assimilation. This “excess light” is problematic because it can lead to the formation of unstable forms of oxygen known as reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide and singlet O2. ROS damage to chloroplast macromolecules contributes to light-mediated decreases in photosynthetic capacity. The rate of ROS formation increases during exposure to environmental stresses such as chilling, since such conditions exacerbate the imbalance between light absorption and light use by inhibiting Calvin-Benson cycle activity. Plants minimize oxidative damage caused by ROS primarily via two mechanisms, antioxidation and energy dissipation. In this chapter, I reviewattempts to quantify the rate of ROS formation, the molecular mechanisms of antioxidation and energy dissipation as well as their acclimation to the growth environment. I also survey recent attempts to employ molecular genetic techniques to confer greater stress tolerance to plants via manipulation of the production of proteins involved in antioxidation and energy dissipation.
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Logan, B.A. (2007). Oxygen Metabolism and Stress Physiology. In: Wise, R.R., Hoober, J.K. (eds) The Structure and Function of Plastids. Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, vol 23. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-4061-0_27
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