We honor Professor Hartmut Karl Lichtenthaler, a versatile pioneer of photosynthesis research, plant physiology, isoprenoid biochemistry, and stress physiology of plants, for his groundbreaking and creative contributions to plant science. His innovative research on the chemical composition, ultrastructure, and function of chloroplasts and his detection of the major methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway in plants is key to our current understanding of the physiology and biochemistry of photosynthesis systems. His ingenious use of the powerful laser-induced chlorophyll a fluorescence imaging has helped us better understand the stress response processes in plant leaves. In this tribute, we present a summary of Lichtenthaler's career, significant scientific contributions, editorial engagement, promotion of international cooperation, many honors, and awards, as well as his devotion to hiking and mountaineering.

• Klíčová slova
• DOXP/MEP pathway, chlorophyll fluorescence, chloroplast ultrastructure, fluorescence imaging of photosynthetic function, isoprenoid biosynthesis, mode of action of herbicides, phylloquinone K1, plastoglobuli, sun/shade-type chloroplasts, the Berkeley Spirit,
• MeSH
• botanika dějiny   MeSH
• dějiny 20. století MeSH
• dějiny 21. století MeSH
• fotosyntéza * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dějiny 20. století MeSH
• dějiny 21. století MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• historické články MeSH

A 50-year-old solitary, sun-exposed ginkgo tree had strongly been pruned in the fall of 2021. Very few buds for the formation of new leaves, twigs, and branches were left over. In spring 2022, these few remaining buds responded with the formation of a different leaf type. These leaves were 2.7 times larger and also thicker than in the years before. In addition, the mean content of total chlorophylls [Chl (a+b)] per leaf area unit of dark-green leaves was 1.45, those of green leaves two times higher as compared to the years before pruning and the two other ginkgo trees which had been investigated in parallel. A comparable increase was also found for the level of total carotenoids (x+c). The mean content for Chl (a+b) were 1,118 mg m-2 for dark-green and 898 mg m-2 for green leaves as compared to 435 to 770 mg m-2 in leaves of other trees. The higher values for Chl (a+b) and total carotenoid content showed up also on a fresh and dry mass basis. Thus, with the formation of a new, larger leaf type by changes in morphology (leaf size and thickness) and the increase of photosynthetic pigments, the pruned ginkgo tree was able to compensate for the much lower number of leaves and photosynthetic units.

• Klíčová slova
• chlorophyll a/b ratio, chlorophyll levels, leaf size, leaf thickness, ratio of chlorophylls to carotenoids, total carotenoid content,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The content of chlorophylls (Chl) (a+b), total carotenoids (x+c), and the pigment ratios of Chl a/b and Chls to carotenoids (a+b)/(x+c) of green leaves of five C4 plants were determined and compared to those of C3 plants. The C4 plants were: Pacific and Chinese silvergrass (Miscanthus floridulus and Miscanthus sinensis), sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum) as well as feed and sugar maize (Zea mays). The three C3 plants were beech, ginkgo, and oak. C4 plants possess higher values for the ratio Chl a/b (3.4-4.5) as compared to the C3 plants (2.6-3.3). Sugar maize had the highest values for Chl a/b (4.04-4.70) and exceptionally high contents of total carotenoids and consequently lower values for the ratio of (a+b)/(x+c) (mean: 3.75 ± 0.6). During autumnal senescence also C4 plants showed a faster decline of Chl b as compared to Chl a yielding high values for Chl a/b of 6 to 8. Chlorophylls declined faster than carotenoids yielding low (a+b)/(x+c) values below 1.0.

• Klíčová slova
• C3 plants, C4 plants, autumnal leaf senescence, chlorophyll contents, photosynthetic pigments, shade leaves, sun leaves, total carotenoid content,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH