SUMMARYA direct impact of chloroplastic protective energy dissipation (qE) on photosynthetic CO 2 assimilation has not been shown directly in plants in the absence of photoinhibition. To test this empirically we transformed rice to possess higher (overexpressors, OE) and lower (RNA interference, RNAi) levels of expression of the regulatory psbS gene and analysed CO 2 assimilation in transformants in a fluctuating measurement light regime. Western blots showed a several-fold difference in levels of PsbS protein between RNAi and OE plants with the wild type (WT) being intermediate. At a growth light intensity of 600 lmol m )2 sec )1 , the carboxylation capacity, electron transport capacity and dark adapted F v /F m (ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence) were inhibited in RNAi plants compared with WT and OE. The PsbS content had a significant impact on qE (measured here as non-photochemical quenching, NPQ) but the strongest effect was observed transiently, immediately following the application of light. This capacity for qE was several-fold lower in RNAi plants and significantly higher in OE plants during the first 10 min of illumination. At steady state the differences were reduced: notably at 500 lmol m )2 sec )1 all plants had the same NPQ values regardless of PsbS content. During a series of light-dark transitions the induction of CO 2 assimilation was inhibited in OE plants, reducing integrated photosynthesis during the light period. We conclude that the accumulation of PsbS and the resultant qE exerts control over photosynthesis in fluctuating light, showing that optimization of photoprotective processes is necessary for maximum photosynthetic productivity even in the absence of photoinhibitory stress.

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The present study was undertaken to identify chlorophyll fluorescence (CF) parameters that can quantify changes in PSII associated with plant responses in three different wheat pathosystems of foliar, stem-base and ear diseases. The pathosystems included powdery mildew caused by Blumeria graminis, eyespot caused by Oculimacula yallundae or Oculimacula acuformis and Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium culmorum, F. avenaceum or F. langsethiae. Fast CF transients (OJIP) were analysed with the JIP-test to determine changes in PSII photochemistry. Measurements on asymptomatic leaves showed that electron transport related parameters (ETo/RC, ψo and ϕEo) were important to identify varietal differences in resistance to powdery mildew during early stages of infection. The same parameters also allowed differentiation between F. langsethiae and other Fusarium spp. Where infections were caused by the necrotrophic pathogens, Oculimacula spp., F. culmorum or F. avenaceum, changes related to maximum efficiency of PSII photochemistry (Fvʹ/Fmʹ) as well as flux of dissipated (DIo/RC), trapped (TRo/RC), or absorbed (ABS/RC) energy per active reaction centers were significant in detecting biotic stress and the effectiveness of fungicide treatment for disease control. Our results demonstrated that Fvʹ/Fmʹ correlated significantly with visual disease and pathogen DNA of different wheat pathosystems. OJIP was shown as a sensitive technique that can be explored as diagnostic tool in future crop disease management and varietal breeding programs.

A note on versions:The version presented here may differ from the published version or from the version of record. If you wish to cite this item you are advised to consult the publisher's version. Please see the repository url above for details on accessing the published version and note that access may require a subscription.For more information, please contact eprints@nottingham.ac.uk Here we used a combination of chlorophyll fluorescence, gas exchange and gene expression 21 analysis, to aid our understanding of the basis of the physiological responses of wheat 22 seedlings under drought conditions to sedaxane, a novel SDHI seed treatment. We show that 23 sedaxane increased the efficiency of PSII photochemistry, reduced non-photochemical 24 quenching and improved the photosynthesis and biomass in wheat correlating with systemic 25 changes in the expression of genes involved in defense, chlorophyll synthesis and cell wall 26 modification. We applied a coexpression network-based approach using differentially 27 expressed genes of leaves, roots and pregerminated seeds from our wheat array datasets to 28 identify the most important hub genes, with top ranked correlation (higher gene association 29 value and z-score) involved in cell wall expansion and strengthening, wax and pigment 30 biosynthesis and defense. The results indicate that sedaxane confers tolerant responses of 31 wheat plants grown under drought conditions by redirecting metabolites from defense/stress 32 responses towards growth and adaptive development. 33 34

Fusarium langsethiae is a fungal pathogen of cereal crops that is an increasing problem in northern Europe, but much of its epidemiology is poorly understood. The species produces the mycotoxins T-2 and HT-2, which are highly toxic. It was hypothesized that grain aphids, Sitobion avenae, may transmit F. langsethiae inoculum between wheat plants, and a series of transmission experiments and volatile chemical analyses was performed to test this. Manual translocation of aphids from inoculated to uninfected hosts resulted in pathogen DNA accumulation in hosts. However, the free movement of wingless aphids from infected to healthy plants did not. The addition of winged aphids reared on F. langsethiae-inoculated wheat seedlings to wheat plants also did not achieve successful pathogen transfer. While our data suggested that aphid transmission of the pathogen was not very efficient, we observed an increase in disease when aphids were present. After seedling inoculation, an increase in pathogen DNA accumulation in seedling leaves was observed upon treatment with aphids. Furthermore, the presence of aphids on wheat plants with F. langsethiae-inoculated ears not only led to a rise in the amount of F. langsethiae DNA in infected grain but also to an increase in the concentrations of T-2 and HT-2 toxins, with more than 3-fold higher toxin levels than diseased plants without aphids. This work highlights that aphids increase the susceptibility of wheat host plants to F. langsethiae and that aphid infestation is a risk factor for accumulating increased levels of T-2 and HT-2 in wheat products. IMPORTANCEFusarium langsethiae is shown here to cause increased contamination levels of grain with toxins produced by fungus when aphids share the host plant. This effect has also recently been demonstrated with Fusarium graminearum, yet the two fungal species show stark differences in their effect on aphid populations. In both cases, aphids improve the ability of the pathogens to cause and initiate Fusarium head blight (FHB) disease in wheat, but F. langsethiae may be able to act as a dispersal agent. F. langsethiae contributes harmful toxins to wheat grain that need to be controlled, but as yet, its epidemiology is unresolved. This work reveals insights into the role aphids play in promoting the successful colonization of this species in wheat and the benefit of controlling aphid populations on crops that are at high risk of FHB. Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a fungal disease of cereal crops that is caused by a pathogen complex comprising several species from the genus Fusarium (1) and two from the genus Microdochium (2). Fusarium species produce mycotoxins upon infecting host plants, which can be harmful if consumed by mammals, with different health impacts depending on the specific toxins produced (3). As well as causing mycotoxin contamination, infection can also lead to reduced yield and grain quality. The disease affects crops in all major cereal-growing regions worldwide, and different species prevail in different geograph...