Zuo Guanqiang
College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524008, China.
College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, 712100, China.
New Phytol. 2025 Jun;246(5):1967-1974. doi: 10.1111/nph.70121. Epub 2025 Apr 4.
Plant photosynthesis is highly responsive to fluctuations in environmental cues. To achieve optimal photosynthetic performance, plants must accurately regulate light absorption, maintaining a dynamic balance between energy supply and consumption in the field. Understanding the potential damage and imbalances caused by excessive light during photosynthesis necessitates a comprehensive insight into the protective role of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). This rapid photoprotective mechanism dissipates excess excitation energy as heat and is ubiquitous throughout the plant kingdom. Previous reviews have primarily focused on the regulation of NPQ amplitude, often overlooking its efficiency in photoprotection. This review outlines the significance, components, and mechanisms of NPQ, presenting fundamental equations that quantitatively describe both NPQ amplitude and its protective functions. I highlight the methodological approaches to quantify the NPQ levels necessary to prevent photoinactivation and photoinhibition, respectively. I conclude by identifying key open questions regarding NPQ and suggesting directions for future research.
植物光合作用对环境信号的波动高度敏感。为实现最佳光合性能，植物必须精确调节光吸收，在田间维持能量供应与消耗之间的动态平衡。要了解光合作用过程中过量光照造成的潜在损害和失衡，就需要全面洞察非光化学猝灭（NPQ）的保护作用。这种快速光保护机制将过量的激发能以热的形式耗散，在整个植物界普遍存在。以往的综述主要关注NPQ幅度的调节，常常忽视其光保护效率。本综述概述了NPQ的意义、组成部分和机制，给出了定量描述NPQ幅度及其保护功能的基本方程。我着重介绍了分别量化防止光失活和光抑制所需NPQ水平的方法。最后，我指出了关于NPQ的关键开放性问题，并提出了未来研究的方向。
