De novo post-illumination monoterpene burst in Quercus ilex (holm oak)

Explicit proof for de novo origin of a rare post-illumination monoterpene burst and its consistency under low O₂, shows interaction of photorespiration, photosynthesis, and isoprenoid biosynthesis during light–dark transitions. Quercus ilex L (holm oak) constitutively emits foliar monoterpenes in an isoprene-like fashion via the methyl erythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway located in chloroplasts. Isoprene-emitting plants are known to exhibit post-illumination isoprene burst, a transient emission of isoprene in darkness. An analogous post-illumination monoterpene burst (PiMB) had remained elusive and is reported here for the first time in Q. ilex. Using ¹³CO₂ labelling, we show that PiMB is made from freshly fixed carbon. PiMB is rare at ambient (20%) O₂, absent at high (50%) O₂, and becomes consistent in leaves exposed to low (2%) O₂. PiMB is stronger and occurs earlier at higher temperatures. We also show that primary and secondary post-illumination CO₂bursts (PiCO₂B) are sensitive to O₂ in Q. ilex. The primary photorespiratory PiCO₂B is absent under both ambient and low O₂, but is induced under high (>50%) O₂, while the secondary PiCO₂B (of unknown origin) is absent under ambient, but present at low and high O₂. We propose that post-illumination recycling of photorespired CO₂ competes with the MEP pathway for photosynthetic carbon and energy, making PiMB rare under ambient O₂ and absent at high O₂. PiMB becomes consistent when photorespiration is suppressed in Q. ilex.