Light Regulation to Chlorophyll Synthesis and Plastid Development of the Chlorophyll-Less Golden-Leaf Privet

• Published in: Journal of integrative plant biology 2010-09, Vol.52 (9), p.809-816
• Main Authors: Yuan, Ming, Xu, Mo-Yun, Yuan, Shu, Chen, Yang-Er, Du, Jun-Bo, Xu, Fei, Zhang, Zhong-Wei, Guo, Zi-Chan, Zhao, Zhong-Yi, Lin, Hong-Hui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carotenoids - metabolism; Chlorophyll - biosynthesis; Chlorophyll - metabolism; Light; Ligustrum - growth & development; Ligustrum - metabolism; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Plastids; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; 叶绿素合成; 叶绿素含量; 氨基乙酰丙酸; 法律顾问; 载脂蛋白; 金叶女贞
• ISSN: 1672-9072; 1744-7909
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2010.00979.x

Ligustrum vicaryi L. is a hybrid of Ligustrum ovalifolium Hassk. var. aureo-marginatum and Ligustrum vulgale L., and displays a chlorophyll-less phenotype. Therefore it is widely used as a horticultural shrub because of its golden-color leaves. Its putative mechanism, light responses, chlorophyll synthesis and plastid development were studied. L. vicaryi has a higher level of 5.aminolevulinic acid （ALA）, but lower levels of chlorophylls compared with L. quihoui. The yellowish phenotype of L. vicaryi upper leaves could be attributed to their hampered conversion from chlorophyllide into chlorophyll a. Despite the enhanced ALA level and the decreased thylakoid stacking in plastids, L. vicaryi golden leaves contain normal levels of Lhcb transcripts and photosystem apoproteins. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species （ROS） accumulation is almost the same in L. vicaryi and L. quihoui. The golden leaves often turn green and the contents of chlorophylls increase with decreasing light intensity. Dynamic changes of chlorophyll- synthesis-system under the light transition were also analyzed.