Mattia Russo, a researcher, and Margherita Maiuri, together with Giulio Cerullo, lecturers in the Department of Physics, have contributed to a study that has revealed an evolutionary adaptation in Posidonia oceanica, the marine plant that is the symbol of the Mediterranean, which enables it to improve its photosynthetic efficiency even in low-light conditions.
The research has shown that, over the course of evolution, Posidonia oceanica has modified the structure of its photosystem I, developing a more extensive light-harvesting system than that of terrestrial plants. This characteristic allows energy to be transferred more rapidly to the photosynthetic reaction centre, maintaining high performance even on the seabed where light is limited.
Using Two-Dimensional Electron Spectroscopy (2DES), the research team observed energy transfer within the photosystem on a timescale of just a few femtoseconds, providing new insights into the mechanisms that make photosynthesis in Posidonia oceanica particularly efficient.
The results of the study may contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of marine plants and help drive the development of crops capable of utilising light more efficiently, with potential implications for agricultural productivity and the sustainable use of resources.
The study, conducted in collaboration with the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station in Naples, the University of Verona and the National Research Council (CNR) as part of the European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant “GrInSun”, has been published in the journal Nature Communications.