Seasonal changes in xanthophyll cycle-dependent energy dissipation in Yucca glauca Nuttall

The evergreen species Yucca glauca was characterized at the end of September and following exposure to low temperatures at the end of November. In November the diurnal pattern of xanthophyll cycle-dependent energy dissipation was altered such that this thermal dissipation process was engaged at a high level throughout the day, whereas in September it only became engaged when leaves received direct sunlight. An analysis of the diurnal partitioning of the absorbed excitation energy into photochemistry versus thermal dissipation suggested that a smaller fraction of that energy was utilized in photochemistry and a greater fraction was dissipated thermally at the end of November compared to September. Lower ratios of Chi alb and beta-carotene/xanthophylls both suggested a decrease in the ratio of reaction centre plus core antenna proteins compared to light-harvesting proteins, and a lower leaf chlorophyll content suggested a decrease in light-harvesting capacity in November versus September. Thus adjustments to the photosynthetic apparatus occurred on several levels in response to the increase in excess excitation energy that Y. glauca experienced during the onset of winter.