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Christmas trees stay green because of photosynthetic shortcut ​ By IANS | Published on ​ Fri, Dec 25 2020 11:21 IST | ​ 0 Views Christmas trees stay green because of photosynthetic shortcut. Image Source: IANS News London, Dec 25 : An international team of scientists has deciphered that a short-cut in the photosynthetic machinery allows the needles of Christmas trees to stay green. In winter, light energy is absorbed by the green chlorophyll molecules but cannot be utilised by the downstream reactions in the photosynthetic machinery as freezing temperatures stop most biochemical re...

A short-cut in photosynthetic machinery can allow needles of pine trees to stay green How can conifers that are used for example as Christmas trees keep their green needles over the boreal winter when most trees shed their leaves? Science has not provided a good answer to this question but now an international team of scientists, including researchers from Umeå University, has deciphered that a short-cut in the photosynthetic machinery allows the needles of pine trees to stay green. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications. In winter, light energy is absorbed by the gree...

Credit: Montage by Stefan Jansson and Pushan Bag How can conifers that are used for example as Christmas trees keep their green needles over the boreal winter when most trees shed their leaves? Science has not provided a good answer to this question but now an international team of scientists, including researchers from Umeå University, has deciphered that a short-cut in the photosynthetic machinery allows the needles of pine trees to stay green. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications. In winter, light energy is absorbed by the green chlorophyll molecules but cannot b...

. The researchers showed that the photosynthetic apparatus is wired in a special way which allows pine needles to stay green all year long. Under normal conditions, the two photosystems, the two functional units where light energy is absorbed and converted into chemical energy, are kept apart from each other to prevent a short-cut and allow efficient photosynthesis. In winter, the structure of the thylakoid membrane, where the two photosystems are located, is reorganized which brings the two photosystems in physical contact. The researchers showed that photosystem II donates energy directly t...