Photosynthetica X:X | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2026.012

Drought stress-induced changes in PSII functioning in ecologically contrasting plants: chlorophyll fluorescence study of poikilohydric and homoiohydric species

J. HÁJEK1, A. PUHOVKIN2, 3, 4, 5, J. LANG6, S.I. UL HAQ2, M. BERNATOVÁ1, D. GIORDANO2, J. SEKERÁK JR.2, M. BARTÁK2
1 Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University, Zemědělská 3, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
2 Department of Experimental Biology, Laboratory of Photosynthetic Processes, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, C-13, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
3 Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine, National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Pereyaslavska Str. 23, 61016 Kharkiv, Ukraine
4 National Antarctic Scientific Centre, State Institution, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Taras Shevchenko Blvd. 16, 01601 Kyiv, Ukraine
5 Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
6 Agricultural Research, Ltd., Zahradní 1, 664 41 Troubsko, Czech Republic

Dehydration reduces photosynthetic performance in leaves and other photosynthetic organs in response to drought. This decline is linked to changes in chlorophyll fluorescence, which reflects reduced photosystem II activity and increased protective non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). This study examined NPQ dynamics during desiccation across diverse species, including lichens, mosses, conifers, crops, and C3 and C4 plants, using the method of NPQ induction and relaxation curves. Gradual dehydration from a full-hydration state (RWC 100%) to complete dryness (RWC 0%) was applied in order to compare poikilohydric and homoiohydric species. NPQmax (light period), NPQrelax (dark period end), and the initial slopes of NPQ rise (α) and decline (β) were evaluated. Relative electron transport rate curves were also assessed. Results showed the above NPQ parameters are highly sensitive to dehydration, suggesting their usefulness - along with standard maximum (FV/FM) and effective quantum yield (ΦPSII) - as early indicators of drought stress in PSII across plant groups.

Additional key words: desiccation; FV, FM; non-photochemical quenching; relative water content.

Received: October 27, 2025; Revised: May 15, 2026; Accepted: May 19, 2026; Prepublished online: June 10, 2026 

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