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Simultaneous measurements of quantum yield and CO2 uptake for the assessment of non-assimilative electron flow in tree leaves

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Forest Research

Abstract

Using attached and detached leaves ofAcer palmatum Thunb. andRhaphiolepsis umbellata Makino, pulse-modulated chlorophyll fluorescence and CO2 exchange were measured. Quantum yield of photosynthesis was determined from the fluorescence parameter(Fm′−Fs)/Fm′, where (Fm′−Fs) was defined as the difference between steady state chlorophyll fluorescence (Fs) and maximum fluorescence (Fm′) elicited by a saturating light pulse. The rate of electron transport through photosystem II (total electron flow) was calculated from the product of quantum yield andA (PFD), whereA is the rate of absorbed photons as given by leaf absorptance, and PFD is the photon flux density at the leaf surface. The rate of electron transport dependant on CO2 uptake (assimilative electron flow) was calculated from the gross photosynthetic rate in a leaf. The difference between the rates of total and assimilative electron transport was denoted as the rate of non-assimilative electron transport which depends on photorespiration and oxygen reduction. Available data provided quantitative information on the rate of non-assimilative electron flow in intact leaves. When leaf photosynthesis ofA. palmatum was measured under sunlight, the rates of total and assimilative electron transport were determined to be approximately 900 and 150 μmol equiv. e/mg Chl·h, respectively. The difference (750 μmol equiv. e/mg Chl·h) was attributed to the activity of non-assimilative electron flow. The ratio of total to assimilative electron flow was found to increase gradually with rising in irradiance. The results suggest that non-assimilative electron flow occurred at much higher rate than assimilative electron flow at high irradiance. Implications of the results are briefly discussed in relation to photosynthesis limitation in tree leaves.

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Abbreviations

PS II:

photosystem II

PS I:

photosystem I

OPS II:

quantum yield of electron transport through PS II

PFD:

photon flux density at leaf surface

Fo :

mitial chlorophyll fluorescence in dark-adapted leaf

Fo′ :

minimum chlorophyll fluorescence in light-adapted leaf

Fm :

maximal chlorophyll fluorescence in dark-adapted leaf

Fm′ :

maximal chlorophyll fluorescence in illuminated leaf

Fv :

maximum variable fluorescence in dark-adapted leaf (=Fm−Fo)

Fs :

chlorophyll fluorescence in steady state; Chl, chlorophyll

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 812, Fukuoka, Japan

    Michito Tsuyama, Hajime Kobayashi, Masaru Shinya & Yoshichika Kobayashi

  2. Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Kyushu University, 812, Fukuoka, Japan

    Hisashi Yahata

Authors
  1. Michito Tsuyama
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  2. Hajime Kobayashi
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  3. Masaru Shinya
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  4. Hisashi Yahata
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  5. Yoshichika Kobayashi
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Tsuyama, M., Kobayashi, H., Shinya, M. et al. Simultaneous measurements of quantum yield and CO2 uptake for the assessment of non-assimilative electron flow in tree leaves. J. For. Res. 1, 79–85 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02348308

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02348308

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