Comparative analysis of drought stress effects on photosynthesis of Eurasian and North African genotypes of wild barley

The impact of drought stress (DS) on eight Eurasian and North African genotypes of wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum) was evaluated by analysis of chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence fast induction curves using the JIP-test. Three-week-old, pot-grown plants were exposed to a DS treatment by withholding water for nine days. The genotype-specific impairment of the functionality of the photosynthetic electron transport chain was quantified using the relative decline of the performance indices (PIabs and PItot), two key parameters of the JIP-test. The genotypes showing the highest (HOR10164) and lowest (HOR10710) relative PIs under DS were subjected to additional experiments, including measurements of leaf gas exchange, water status, pigment content, key enzyme activity, and protein abundance. The genotypes showed a specific profile of DS-mediated inhibition of photosynthesis, associated with higher relative leaf water contents in HOR10164 at the end of the treatment. Whereas decreased photosynthetic rate in HOR10164 was mainly caused by stomatal closure, nonstomatal limitations (decreased Rubisco content and activity) were detected in HOR10710. Additional genotype specific features were the upregulation of the NADP-malate dehydrogenase in HOR10164 and a decreased fraction of Q(A)-reducing reaction centers in HOR10710.