A kinetic model of the primary back reaction in photosynthesis of green plants

Experimental in vivo measurements of light emission in plants: a perspective dedicated to David Walker

This review is dedicated to David Walker (1928-2012), a pioneer in the field of photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence. We begin this review by presenting the history of light emission studies, from the ancient times. Light emission from plants is of several kinds: prompt fluorescence (PF), delayed fluorescence (DF), thermoluminescence, and phosphorescence. In this article, we focus on PF and DF. Chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements have been used for more than 80 years to study photosynthesis, particularly photosystem II (PSII) since 1961. This technique has become a regular trusted probe in agricultural and biological research. Many measured and calculated parameters are good biomarkers or indicators of plant tolerance to different abiotic and biotic stressors. This would never have been possible without the rapid development of new fluorometers. To date, most of these instruments are based mainly on two different operational principles for measuring variable chlorophyll a fluorescence: (1) a PF signal produced following a pulse-amplitude-modulated excitation and (2) a PF signal emitted during a strong continuous actinic excitation. In addition to fluorometers, other instruments have been developed to measure additional signals, such as DF, originating from PSII, and light-induced absorbance changes due to the photooxidation of P700, from PSI, measured as the absorption decrease (photobleaching) at about 705 nm, or increase at 820 nm. In this review, the technical and theoretical basis of newly developed instruments, allowing for simultaneous measurement of the PF and the DF as well as other parameters is discussed. Special emphasis has been given to a description of comparative measurements on PF and DF. However, DF has been discussed in greater details, since it is much less used and less known than PF, but has a great potential to provide useful qualitative new information on the back reactions of PSII electron transfer. A review concerning the history of fluorometers is also presented.

Effects of hydroxylamine and silicomolybdate on the decay in delayed light emission in the 6-100 μs range after a single 10 ns flash in pea thylakoids

Measurements are reported on μs delayed light emission, following a single 10 ns excitation flash, in Alaska pea thylakoids treated with hydroxylamine (NH2OH) or with silicomolybdate. 1. In thylakoids treated with 2 mM NH2OH in the light, or in the dark, the quantum yield of delayed light emission is considerably enhanced. A 10 μs lifetime component of delayed light emission is not significantly changed, whereas a 50-70 μs lifetime component is increased. MnCl2 and diphenylcarbazide are unable to reverse the above effects of NH2OH treatment. Thus Mn(2+) and diphenylcarbazide must not donate electrons directly to reaction center II but on the oxygen-evolution side of the NH2OH block. 2. When the closed form of photosystem II reaction centers (P680Q(-)), where P680 is the reaction center chlorophyll and Q is a 'stable' electron acceptor, is generated by preillumination of NH2OH-treated thylakoids with diuron present, the μs delayed light emission is inhibited, but a low level residual delayed light emission remains. Possible origins of this emission are discussed. It is believed that the best explanation for residual DLE is the existence of another acceptor besides Q that partakes in charge separation and rapid dissipative recombination when the reaction center is in the P680Q(-) state. 3. The quantum yield of delayed light emission from 'closed' reaction centers (P680 (+)Q(-)) that have all charge stabilization reactions (i.e., flow of electrons to P680 (+) and out of Q(-)) blocked by NH2OH treatment and addition of diuron is 1.1×10(-3) for components measured in a range from 6 to 400 μs and extrapolated to zero time. 4. The addition of silicomolybdate, which accepts electron from Q(-), causes delayed light emission in the μs range to be greatly inhibited.

The influence of the electric diffusion potential on delayed fluorescence light curves of chloroplasts treated with 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea

The potassium salt-induced transient increase of delayed fluorescence yield was studied in pea chloroplasts treated with 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. A simple kinetic model is proposed to account for the actinic light intensity dependence of the delayed fluorescence enhancement by the transmembrane diffusion potential induced by sudden salt addition. The electric field dependence of the rate constants for the recombination of primary separated charges with and without subsequent electronic excitation of reaction center chlorophyll was obtained. From the value of enhancement of delayed fluorescence by salt concentration gradients at saturating actinic light intensity, it is concluded that the distance, normal to thylakoid membrane surface, between the primary acceptor and the donor of Photosystem II is smaller than the membrane thickness.