Chlorophyll (Chl) α fluorescence induction (transient), measured by exposing dark-adapted samples to high light, shows a polyphasic rise, which has been the subject of extensive research over several decades. Several Chl fluorescence parameters based on this transient have been defined, the most widely used being the FV [= (FM-F0)]/FM ratio as a proxy for the maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry. However, considerable additional information may be derived from analysis of the shape of the fluorescence transient. In fact, several performance indices (PIs) have been defined, which are suggested to provide information on the structure and function of PSII, as well as on the efficiencies of specific electron transport reactions in the thylakoid membrane. Further, these PIs have been proposed to quantify plant tolerance to stress, such as by high light, drought, high (or low) temperature, or N-deficiency. This is an interesting idea, since the speed of the Chl α fluorescence transient measurement (<1 s) is very suitable for high-throughput phenotyping. In this review, we describe how PIs have been used in the assessment of photosynthetic tolerance to various abiotic stress factors. We synthesize these findings and draw conclusions on the suitability of several PIs in assessing stress responses. Finally, we highlight an alternative method to extract information from fluorescence transients, the Integrated Biomarker Response. This method has been developed to define multi-parametric indices in other scientific fields (e.g., ecology), and may be used to combine Chl α fluorescence data with other proxies characterizing CO2 assimilation, or even growth or grain yield, allowing a more holistic assessment of plant performance., A. Stirbet, D. Lazár, J. Kromdijk, Govindjee., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
We describe an instrument that allows the rapid measurement of fluorescence lifetime-resolved images of leaves as well as sub-cellular structures of intact plants or single cells of algae. Lifetime and intensity fluorescence images can be acquired and displayed in real time (up to 55 lifetime-resolved images per s). Our imaging technique therefore allows rapid measurements that are necessary to determine the fluorescence lifetimes at the maximum (P level) fluorescence following initial illumination during the chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence transient (induction) in photosynthetic organisms. We demonstrate the application of this new instrument and methodology to measurements of: (1) Arabidopsis thaliana leaves showing the effect of dehydration on the fluorescence lifetime images; (2) Zea mays leaves showing differences in the fluorescence lifetimes due to differences in the bundle sheath cells (having a higher amount of low yield photosystem 1) and the mesophyll cells (having a higher amount of high yield photosystem 2); and (3) single cells of wild type Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and its non-photochemical quenching mutant NPQ2 (where the conversion of zeaxanthin to violaxanthin is blocked), with NPQ2 showing lowered lifetime of Chl a fluorescence. In addition to the lifetime differences referred to in (1) and (2), structural dependent heterogeneities in the fluorescence lifetimes were generally observed when imaging mesophyll cells in leaves. and O. Holub ... [et al.].
Irradiation of etiolated leaves leads to their greening. Although this problem has a long history, the question of whether the intermittent irradiation (IMI) grown plants have fully functional reaction centres as well as the oxygen clock, before exposure to continuous irradiation (CI), had not been resolved. To answer this question, as well as to analyze the development of the two photosystems, the following parallel measurements were made: (1) Emission spectra at 77 K; (2) OJIP chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence transient; (3) period 4 oscillation in the flash number dependence of initial fluorescence F0 (at 50 µs) and FJ (at 2 ms); and (4) P700. In the 1-ms-flash (FL) grown pea, that has a different biogenesis of the photosynthetic apparatus, delayed light emission (DLE) and Chl a fluorescence transient were measured in parallel. Quantitative analysis of Chl a fluorescence values provided the following conclusions: (1) IMI, not FL, plants have almost fully developed reaction centres and the oxygen clock. (2) Further greening of IMI plants under CI involves two phases: (a) during 3-4 h of CI, the number of PS2 units and connectivity between them increase, and then (b) light-harvesting antenna increases. (3) In FL, 10 min CI activates fully the oxygen clock. and A. Srivastava, R. J. Strasser, Govindjee.
The history of the journals "Photosynthetica" and "Photosynthesis Research" is traced from its beginning. Their development is related to the history of several publishers (Dr W. Junk Publishers, Martinus Nijhoff, Kluwer Academic Publishers). This account is based on recollections and records of the authors, Ad C. Plaizier, and René Marcelle (the first Editor-in-Chief of Photosynthesis Research). and Govindjee, Z. Šesták, W. R. Peters.