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Prunus domestica L. has green leaves, whereas Prunus cerasifera Ehrh. var. atropurpurea has red leaves due to the presence of mesophyll anthocyanins. We compared morphological and photosynthetic characteristics of leaves of these species, which were sampled from shoots grafted in pairs on P. domestica rootstocks, each pair comprising one shoot of each species. Two hypotheses were tested: (1) anthocyanins protect red leaves against photoinhibition; and (2) red leaves display shade characteristics because of light attenuation by anthocyanins. Parameters were measured seasonally, during a period of increasing water stress, which caused a similar drop in shoot water potential in each species. As judged by predawn measurements of maximum PSII yield, chronic photoinhibition did not develop in either species and, despite the anthocyanic screen, the red leaves of P. cerasifera displayed lower light-adapted PSII yields and higher non-photochemical quenching than the green leaves of P. domestica. Thus, it appears that, in this system, anthocyanins afford little photoprotection. As predicted by the shade acclimation hypothesis, red leaves were thinner and had a lower stomatal frequency, area- based CO2 assimilation rate, apparent carboxylation efficiency and chlorophyll a:b ratio than green leaves. However, red leaves were similar to green leaves in conductivity to water vapor diffusion, dry-mass-based chlorophyll concentrations and carotenoid:chlorophyll ratios. The data for red leaves indicate adaptations to a green-depleted, red-enriched shade, rather than a neutral or canopy-like shade. Thus, green light attenuation by anthocyanins may impose a limitation on leaf thickness. Moreover, the selective depletion of light at wavelengths that are preferentially absorbed by PSII and chlorophyll b may lead to adjustments in chlorophyll pigment ratios to compensate for the uneven spectral distribution of internal light. The apparent photosynthetic cost associated with lost photons and reduced leaf thickness, and the absence of a photoprotective advantage, suggest that there are other, yet to be identified, benefits for permanently anthocyanic leaves of P. cerasifera.

Xanthophyll cycle components and their pool sizes were seasonally examined in eight Mediterranean plant species from two different growth forms (drought semi-deciduals and evergreen sclerophylls), in an attempt to correlate possible fluctuations in the above parameters with potentially photoinhibitory conditions. The xanthophyll cycle was common in all species examined and was functional throughout the year. In semi-deciduals, the maximum midday values for conversion state, defined as the ratio (zeaxanthin + antheraxanthin)/(violaxanthin + zeaxanthin + antheraxanthin), and the maximum xanthophyll pool sizes, expressed on a Chl basis, were recorded during the dry summer, indicating that the period of water shortage may be the most demanding for a high photoprotective potential. However, the data suggests that sclerophylls may also need a high photoprotective potential during winter, since the xanthophyll pool sizes were equally high during both summer and winter. Corresponding spring and autumn values were low. Furthermore, winter pre-dawn conversion state values were the highest recorded amongst all species studied, indicating that the mildly low winter temperatures may be a considerable stress factor for these plants. It is assumed that by preserving high concentrations of zeaxanthin and antheraxanthin overnight, sclerophylls retain high energy dissipation activity early in the morning, when minimum temperatures, coinciding with high photon fluence rates, are likely to drive the photosynthetic apparatus to potentially harmful overexcitation. Of significance may be the fact that almost all species show a minimum in chlorophyll content during the summer. In this way, overexcitation is alleviated and the photoprotective action of carotenoids per chlorophyll molecule is enhanced.

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