Photosynthetica - Ahead of Print
Photosynthetic responses and growth dynamics of Allagoptera arenaria (Gomes) Kuntze (Arecaceae) in a chronosequence in a Restinga restoration area
A.J.G. JÚNIOR, M.M. MENDES, F.R. PIRES, A.A. FERNANDES, A.R. FALQUETO, L.F.T.D. MENEZES
Photosynthetica X:X | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2026.001 
Knowledge about plant species' growth dynamics is essential in restoring degraded environments. In this study, we evaluated the growth dynamics of Allagoptera arenaria (Gomes) Kuntze in a chronosequence of plantations in the Restinga. The sampling was taken from three populations with different planting ages (n = 12): group GI - 8 months; GII - 4 years; GIII - 7 years. We analyzed biometric measurements, leaf traits, photosynthetic pigments, and chlorophyll a fluorescence. The GI group's maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry was significantly higher. On the other hand, the energy dissipation by heat was significantly...
Exploring prediction mechanisms for temperature-induced variation in maximum carboxylation rate from spectral reflectance across 450-850 nm in cucumber leaves
T. SHIBATA, H. YAMAGUCHI, S. KUBOTA, D. YASUTAKE, T. HIROTA, G. YOKOYAMA
Photosynthetica X:X | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2026.006
Leaf spectral reflectance across 450-850 nm has been shown to predict maximum carboxylation rate (Vcmax), which varies with leaf temperature (Tleaf). However, the mechanism by which temperature-induced variation in Vcmax is predicted from reflectance remains unclear. The objective of this study was to explore this mechanism using spectral reflectance across 450-850 nm. We measured Vcmax across a range of Tleaf (18-31°C) and reflectance in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) leaves. Partial least squares regression models moderately predicted Vcmax...
A life in light: celebrating the 75th birthday of Professor Suleyman I. Allakhverdiev
B.D. BRUCE, T. TATSUYA, G. GOVINDJEE, G. GARAB, A S. RAGHAVENDRA, S. RAMAKRISHNA, A. LARKUM, J.J. EATON-RYE, J.R. SHEN, R. SUBRAMANYAM, M.M. NAJAFPOUR
Photosynthetica X:X | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2026.007
This Special Issue of Photosynthetica is dedicated to celebrating the distinguished scientific life and 75th birthday of Professor Suleyman I. Allakhverdiev (born 1 August 1950), whose contributions have left an enduring mark on modern photosynthesis research, photobiology, and bioenergetics. His pioneering studies of Photosystem II advanced the field in fundamental ways, including establishing pheophytin as the primary electron acceptor, defining the functional Mn₄ water-oxidizing cluster and its reconstitution, and clarifying the redox properties of key cofactors such as QA, QB, and P680....
Role of pheophytin in chlorophyll a fluorescence transients
G. GARAB
Photosynthetica X:X | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2026.008
In this review, I revisit the groundbreaking discovery of pheophytin a (Pheo) in the primary charge separation of photosystem II (PSII) reaction centres (RCs) and draw attention to key observations that concern the origin of the variable chlorophyll a fluorescence (Fv) of PSII as well as the partitioning of the absorbed quanta between different de-excitation pathways. In particular, I recall data from the 1970s and 1980s, which have revealed photoreduction of Pheo in closed PSII (PSIIC) containing the primary quinone acceptor in reduced form, and in photoinhibited PSII with largely suppressed Fv. Taken...
Revealing differences in the invasiveness of Sphagneticola trilobata under different light environments based on physiological and morphological plasticity
X.T. ZHENG, H. ZHU, Y.Z. ZHENG, Y.S. WANG, M. DING, J.X. WANG, Z.C. YU
Photosynthetica X:X | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2026.009
Studies of the physiological and morphological characteristics of invasive plants contribute to understanding their invasive capacity. However, it remains unclear whether the same invasive plant species relies equally on morphological and physiological traits to enhance its invasiveness potential across different light habitats. In this study, the invasive plant Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski was used to examine eight morphological traits and nine physiological traits of the leaf under contrasting light conditions. Results revealed that under full light, growth, biomass, and all physiological traits, as well as most morphological traits...