Responses of photosynthetic light- use efficiency and chloroplast development on exposure of leaves to ozone

Environmental stresses can affect the photosynthetic performance of plants either directly by influencing the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus or indirectly by modifying the developmental processes involved in the biogenesis of the components of the photosynthetic apparatus and their functional organisation. In this paper we address initially the question as to whether exposure of mature leaves to ozone reduces the efficiency of light utilisation in photosynthesis. The effects of ozone on chloroplast development in wheat leaves and the consequences for photosynthetic performance are then examined.