Photosynthetic Attributes of Antarctic Plants

From the abstracts of the referenced papers: Photoinhibition of Grimmia antarctici (Grimmia is now known as Schistidium) during the summer at Casey, East Antarctica, was indicated by a reduction in photosynthetic capacity (light saturated photosynthetic rate), photosynthetic efficiency (photon yield of O2 evolution), photochemical quantum yield (ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence) and rate of fluorescence quenching when plants were exposed to moderate light at low temperature.

We suggest that photoinhibition is a major factor limiting bryophyte productivity in Antarctic ecosystems. Variation in leaf pigmentation from green to ginger is observed for Ceratodon purpureus (Hedw.) Brid. in Antarctica. Electron microscopy of ginger and green leaves reveals less thylakoid stacking, a response to greater light exposure, in the ginger leaves.