PAID ACCESS | Published on : 27-Mar-2025 | Pages: 56-66 | Doi : 10.37446/edibook242025/56-66
Plants, as primary producers in ecosystems, depend on photosynthesis to drive growth and energy production. While light is essential for photosynthesis, excessive exposure to high light intensity or ionizing radiation imposes significant stress, jeopardizing plant health and productivity. This paper delves into two critical phenomena caused by such environmental stressors: photo-oxidation and photo inhibition. Photo-oxidation occurs when light intensities surpass the photosynthetic capacity of plants, leading to an overexcitation of chlorophyll molecules and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ROS, including singlet oxygen, superoxide anions, and hydroxyl radicals, inflict extensive damage on cellular structures such as lipids, proteins, and DNA, culminating in oxidative stress. Photo inhibition, on the other hand, involves damage to the photosynthetic apparatus, particularly Photosystem II (PSII), under excessive light conditions, impairing electron transport and reducing photosynthetic efficiency. High ionizing radiation further exacerbates these challenges by splitting water molecules through radiolysis, generating ROS that contribute to DNA mutations, chronic oxidative stress, and compromised growth. Plants have evolved intricate defense mechanisms to counteract these stressors. Enzymatic antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidases, along with non-enzymatic antioxidants such as carotenoids and glutathione, neutralize ROS and protect cellular integrity.
Highlight stress, photo-oxidation, photo inhibition, high ionizing radiation
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