Impacts of chilling temperatures on photosynthesis in warm-climate plants

Abstract

Photosynthesis in warm-climate plants is substantially reduced after chilling. Tropical and subtropical species offer the opportunity to study the effects of low temperature on photosynthetic processes undisguised by the myriad of protective responses observed in temperate species. In this article, we highlight the primary components of photosynthesis that are affected by a short chill, in both the dark and the light, and discuss what is known of the mechanisms involved. Recent work implicates impaired redox and circadian regulation among other processes.