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Chlorophyll fluorescence imaging of photosynthetic activity in sun and shade leaves of trees

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Abstract

The differences in pigment levels, photosynthetic activity and the chlorophyll fluorescence decrease ratio R Fd (as indicator of photosynthetic rates) of green sun and shade leaves of three broadleaf trees (Platanus acerifolia Willd., Populus alba L., Tilia cordata Mill.) were compared. Sun leaves were characterized by higher levels of total chlorophylls a + b and total carotenoids x + c as well as higher values for the weight ratio chlorophyll (Chl) a/b (sun leaves 3.23–3.45; shade leaves: 2.74–2.81), and lower values for the ratio chlorophylls to carotenoids (a + b)/(x + c) (with 4.44–4.70 in sun leaves and 5.04–5.72 in shade leaves). Sun leaves exhibited higher photosynthetic rates P N on a leaf area basis (mean of 9.1–10.1 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1) and Chl basis, which correlated well with the higher values of stomatal conductance G s (range 105–180 mmol m−2 s−1), as compared to shade leaves (G s range 25–77 mmol m−2 s−1; P N: 3.2–3.7 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1). The higher photosynthetic rates could also be detected via imaging the Chl fluorescence decrease ratio R Fd, which possessed higher values in sun leaves (2.8–3.0) as compared to shade leaves (1.4–1.8). In addition, via R Fd images it was shown that the photosynthetic activity of the leaves of all trees exhibits a large heterogeneity across the leaf area, and in general to a higher extent in sun leaves than in shade leaves.

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Abbreviations

a + b :

Total chlorophylls

a/b :

Ratio of chlorophyll a to b

(a + b)/(x + c):

Weight ratio of chlorophylls to carotenoids

c :

Carotenes

Chl:

Chlorophyll

Fp, Fo, and Fs:

Maximum, initial, and steady Chl fluorescence

Fd:

Fluorescence decrease from Fp to Fs

Fp:

Maximum Chl fluorescence at non-saturating light conditions

Fv/Fm and Fv/Fo:

Maximum quantum yield of photosystem II photochemistry measured in the dark adapted, non-functional state 2 of the photosynthetic apparatus

G s :

Stomatal conductance measured at light saturation

P N :

Net photosynthetic CO2 assimilation measured at light saturation

R FD :

Chl fluorescence decrease ratio measured in the red band near 690 nm

x + c :

Total carotenoids

x :

Xanthophylls

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Ms Sabine Zeiler for the excellent implementation of pigment determinations, and to Ms Gabrielle Johnson for English language assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botanisches Institut, University of Karlsruhe, Kaiserstr. 12, 76133, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Hartmut Karl Lichtenthaler, Fatbardha Babani & Gabriele Langsdorf

  2. Biological Research Institute, Academy of Sciences, Tirana, Albania

    Fatbardha Babani

Authors
  1. Hartmut Karl Lichtenthaler
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  2. Fatbardha Babani
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  3. Gabriele Langsdorf
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Correspondence to Hartmut Karl Lichtenthaler.

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Lichtenthaler, H.K., Babani, F. & Langsdorf, G. Chlorophyll fluorescence imaging of photosynthetic activity in sun and shade leaves of trees. Photosynth Res 93, 235–244 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-007-9174-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-007-9174-0

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