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The ratio of variable to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence from photosystem II, measured in leaves at ambient temperature and at 77K, as an indicator of the photon yield of photosynthesis

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Abstract

The response of a number of species to high light levels was examined to determine whether chlorophyll fluorescence from photosystem (PS) II measured at ambient temperature could be used quantitatively to estimate the photon yield of O2 evolution. In many species, the ratio of the yield of the variable (FV) and the maximum chlorophyll fluorescence (FM) determined from leaves at ambient temperature matched that from leaves frozen to 77K when reductions in FV/FM and the photon yield resulted from exposure of leaves to high light levels under favorable temperatures and water status. Under conditions which were less favorable for photosynthesis, FV/FM at ambient temperature often matched the photon yield more closely than FV/FM measured at 77K. Exposure of leaves to high light levels in combination with water stress or chilling stress resulted in much greater reductions in the photon yield than in FV/FM (at both ambient temperature and 77K) measured in darkness, which would be expected if the site of inhibition was beyond PSII. Following chilling stress, FV/FM determined during measurement of the photon yield in the light was depressed to a degree more similar to that of the depression of photon yield, presumably as a result of regulation of PSII in response to greatly reduced electron flow.

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Abbreviations

Fo :

yield of instantaneous fluorescence

FM :

yield of maximum fluorescence

FV :

yield of variable fluorescence

PFD:

photon flux density (400–700 nm)

PSI (II):

photosystem I (II)

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Author notes

  1. William W. Adams III & Barbara Demmig-Adams

    Present address: Department of Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology, University of Colorado, 80309-0334, Boulder, CO, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Botanik und Pharmazeutische Biologie der Universität Würzburg, Mittlerer Dallenbergweg 64, D-8700, Würzburg, Germany

    William W. Adams III, Barbara Demmig-Adams, Klaus Winter & Ulrich Schreiber

Authors
  1. William W. Adams III
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  2. Barbara Demmig-Adams
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  3. Klaus Winter
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  4. Ulrich Schreiber
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Additional information

This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinchaft. W.W.A. gratefully acknowledges the support of Fellowships from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung. We also thank Maria Lesch for plant maintenance.

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Adams, W.W., Demmig-Adams, B., Winter, K. et al. The ratio of variable to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence from photosystem II, measured in leaves at ambient temperature and at 77K, as an indicator of the photon yield of photosynthesis. Planta 180, 166–174 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00193991

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