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Changes in Photosystem II fluorescence in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii exposed to increasing levels of irradiance in relationship to the photosynthetic response to light

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Abstract

The effects of a 60 min exposure to photosynthetic photon flux densities ranging from 300 to 2200 μmol m−2s−1 on the photosynthetic light response curve and on PS II heterogeneity as reflected in chlorophyll a fluorescence were investigated using the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. It was established that exposure to high light acts at three different regulatory or inhibitory levels; 1) regulation occurs from 300 to 780 μmol m−2s−1 where total amount of PS II centers and the shape of the light response curve is not significantly changed, 2) a first photoinhibitory range above 780 up to 1600 μmol m−2s−1 where a progressive inhibition of the quantum yield and the rate of bending (convexity) of the light response curve can be related to the loss of QB-reducing centers and 3) a second photoinhibitory range above 1600 μmol m−2s−1 where the rate of light saturated photosynthesis also decreases and convexity reaches zero. This was related to a particularly large decrease in PS IIα centers and a large increase in spill-over in energy to PS I.

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Abbreviations

Chl:

chlorophyll

DCMU:

3,(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea

FM :

maximal fluorescence yield

Fpl :

intermediate fluorescence yield plateau level

F0 :

non-variable fluorescence yield

Fv :

total variable fluorescence yield (FM-F0)

ϕ:

initial slope to the light response curve, used as an estimate of initial quantum yield

θ:

convexity (rate of bending) of the light response curve of photosynthesis

LHC:

light-harvesting complex

Pmax :

maximum rate of photosynthesis

PQ:

plastoquinone

Q:

photosynthetically active photon flux density (400–700 nm, μmol m−2s−1)

PS:

photosystem

QA and QB :

primary and secondary quinone electron acceptor of PS II

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Physiology, University of Umeå, S-901 87, Umeå, Sweden

    Stefan Falk, Jerry W. Leverenz, Göran Samuelsson & Gunnar Öquist

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  1. Stefan Falk
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  2. Jerry W. Leverenz
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  3. Göran Samuelsson
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  4. Gunnar Öquist
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Falk, S., Leverenz, J.W., Samuelsson, G. et al. Changes in Photosystem II fluorescence in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii exposed to increasing levels of irradiance in relationship to the photosynthetic response to light. Photosynth Res 31, 31–40 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00049534

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00049534

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