The effects of different spectral region of excitation and detection of chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence at room temperature on the estimation of excitation energy utilization within photosystem (PS) 2 were studied in wild-type barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Bonus) and its Chl b-less mutant chlorina f2 grown under low and high irradiances [100 and 1 000 µmol(photon) m-2 s-1]. Three measuring spectral regimes were applied using a PAM 101 fluorometer: (1) excitation in the red region (maximum at the wavelength of 649 nm) and detection in the far-red region beyond 710 nm, (2) excitation in the blue region (maximum at the wavelength of 461 nm) and detection beyond 710 nm, and (3) excitation in the blue region and detection in the red region (660- 710 nm). Non-photochemical quenching of maximal (NPQ) and minimal fluorescence (SV0), determined by detecting Chl a fluorescence beyond 710 nm, were significantly higher for blue excitation as compared to red excitation. We suggest that this results from higher non-radiative dissipation of absorbed excitation energy within light-harvesting complexes of PS2 (LHC2) due to preferential excitation of LHC2 by blue radiation and from the lower contribution of PS1 emission to the detected fluorescence in the case of blue excitation. Detection of Chl a fluorescence originating preferentially from PS2 (i.e. in the range of 660-710 nm) led to pronounced increase of NPQ, SV0, and the PS2 photochemical efficiencies (FV/FM and FV'/FM'), indicating considerable underestimation of these parameters using the standard set-up of PAM 101. Hence PS1 contribution to the minimal fluorescence level in the irradiance-adapted state may reach up to about 80 %. and M. Štroch ... [et al.].
The review deals with objective reasons that limit the use of chlorophyll fluorescence induction kinetics (Chl FIK) method in plant ecology. Based on the ontogenetic approach (analysis and comparison of the dynamics of the Chl fluorescence ratio Fp/Fs and physiological characteristics of plant leaves in ontogeny) possible criteria for the estimation of general plant resistance of photosynthetic apparatus (PSA) to prolonged stress affects are proposed. One of these criteria is the presence or absence of a steady-state phase in the dynamics of Chl fluorescence ratio Fp/Fs (or Rfd) of plant leaves after they stop growing. We also propose to use the duration of the steady-state phase and variability of Chl fluorescence ratios Rfd and Fp/Fs in this period for quantitative assessment of plant PSA resistance to prolonged stress during plant leaf ontogeny. and T. V. Nesterenko, A. A. Tikhomirov, V. N. Shikhov.
2-years-old cypress needles (A2) were physiologically most active with regard to net photosynthetic (PN) and electron transport rates. Variable to maximum fluorescence (Fv/Fm) ratios of dark-adapted needles were higher in A2 needles than in current year (A1) or senescent (A4) needles. Lower Fv/Fm values in these stages seemed to be caused not by photoinhibition but by a low photochemical capacity as suggested from the chlorophyll (Chl) a/b ratios. In isolated thylakoids, lower rates of whole chain and photosystem 2 (PS2) activities were observed in A4 needles, while higher rates were observed in A2 needles. A similar trend was noticed for contents of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPC) and total soluble proteins. The artificial exogenous electron donor Mn2+ failed to restore the loss of PS2 activity in 3-year-old (A3) and A4 needles, while diphenylcarbazide and NH2OH significantly restored the loss of PS2 activity. The marked loss of PS2 activity in A4 needles was primarily the result of the loss of 33, 28-25, 23, and 17 kDa polypeptides. A marked loss of RuBPC activity in A4 needles is mainly due to the loss of 15 (SSU) and 55 (LSU) kDa polypeptides. and N. La Porta ... [et al.].