Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Simulation of Pulse-Amplitude-Modulated (PAM) fluorescence: Limitations of some PAM-parameters in studying environmental stress effects

  • Published:
Photosynthetica

Abstract

Fluorescence parameters obtained during steady-state electron transport are frequently used to evaluate photosynthetic efficiency of plants. We studied the behaviour of those parameters as a function of irradiance-adapted fluorescence yields FS and F'M. Applied simulations showed that photochemical quenching evaluated by qP is greatly influenced by the steady-state fluorescence level (FS), and that its evolution is not complementary to non-photochemical quenching (qN). On the other hand, the relative photochemical and non-photochemical quenching coefficients (qP(rel) and qN(rel)) proposed by Buschmann (1995) represent better the balance between the energy dissipation pathways. However, these relative parameters are also non-linearly related when the FS level is varied. We investigated the application of a new parameter, the relative unquenched fluorescence (UQF(rel)) which takes into account the fraction of non-quenched fluorescence yield (FS), which is related to closed photosystem 2 reaction centres not participating in electron transport. By using computer simulations and real in vivo measurements, we found that this new parameter is complementary to qP(rel) and qN(rel), which may facilitate the use of PAM fluorescence as diagnostic tool in environmental studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

Chl:

chlorophyll

F0 :

minimum fluorescence yield in dark-adapted state

F'0 :

minimum fluorescence yield in light-adapted state

FM :

maximum fluorescence yield in dark-adapted state

F'M :

maximum fluorescence yield in light-adapted state

FS :

steady-state fluorescence level in light-adapted state

LHC:

light-harvesting complex

PAM:

Pulse-Amplitude-Modulated

PS:

photosystem

qN and qN(rel) :

non-photochemical and relative non-photochemical quenching

qP and qP(rel) :

photochemical and relative photochemical quenching

RCs:

reaction centres

UQF(rel) :

relative unquenched fluorescence

Φ'M :

effective photosystem 2 quantum yield

References

  • Barón, M., Arellano, J.B., López Gorgé, J.: Copper and photosystem II: A controversial relationship. — Physiol. Plant. 94: 174–180, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bilger, W., Björkman, O.: Role of the xanthophyll cycle in photoprotection elucidated by measurements of light-induced absorbance changes, fluorescence and photosynthesis in leaves of Hedera canariensis. — Photosynth. Res. 25: 173–185, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Björkman, O., Demmig, B.: Photon yield of O2 evolution and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics at 77 K among vascular plants of diverse origins. — Planta 170: 489–504, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolhàr-Nordenkampf, H.R., Long, S.P., Baker, N.R., Öquist, G., Schreiber, U., Lechner, E.G.: Chlorophyll fluorescence as a probe of the photosynthetic competence of leaves in the field: a review of current instrumentation. — Funct. Ecol. 3: 497–514, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brack, W., Frank, H.: Chlorophyll a fluorescence: A tool for the investigation of toxic effects in the photosynthetic apparatus. — Ecotoxicol. environ. Safety 40: 34–41, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buschmann, C.: Variation of the quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence under different intensities of the actinic light in wild-type plants of tobacco and in an Aurea mutant deficient of light-harvesting-complex. — J. Plant Physiol. 145: 245–252, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buschmann, C.: Photochemical and non-photochemical quenching coefficients of the chlorophyll fluorescence: comparison of variation and limits. — Photosynthetica 37: 217–224, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  • Demmig-Adams, B., Adams, W.W., III, Barker, D.H., Logan, B.A., Bowling, D.R., Verhoeven, A.S.: Using chlorophyll fluorescence to assess the fraction of absorbed light allocated to thermal dissipation of excess excitation. — Physiol. Plant. 98: 253–264, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  • El Jay, A., Ducruet, J.-M., Duval, J.-C., Pelletier, J.P.: A high-sensitivity chlorophyll fluorescence assay for monitoring herbicide inhibition of photosystem II in the chlorophyte Selenastrum capricornutum: Comparison with effect on cell growth. — Arch. Hydrobiol. 140: 273–286, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flameling, I.A., Kromkamp, J.: Light dependence of quantum yields for PSII charge separation and oxygen evolution in eucaryotic algae. — Limnol. Oceanogr. 43: 284–297, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankart, C., Eullaffroy, P., Vernet, G.: Comparative effects of four herbicides on non-photochemical fluorescence quenching in Lemna minor. — Environ. exp. Bot. 49: 159–168, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  • Genty, B., Briantais, J.-M., Baker, N.R.: The relationship between the quantum yield of photosynthetic electron transport and quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. — Biochim. biophys. Acta 990: 87–92, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  • Georgieva, K., Yordanov, I.: Temperature dependence of photochemical and non-photochemical fluorescence quenching in intact pea leaves. — J. Plant Physiol. 144: 754–759, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinze, I., Dau, H., Senger, H.: The relation between the photochemical yield and variable fluorescence of photosystem II in the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus. — J. Photochem. Photobiol. B 32: 89–95, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joliot, A., Joliot, P.: Étude cinétique de la réaction photochimique libérant l'oxygène au cours de la photosynthèse. — Compt. rend. Séances Acad. Sci. Paris 258: 4622–4625, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Juneau, P., Dewez, D., Matsui, S., Kim, S.-G., Popovic, R.: Evaluation of different algal species sensitivity to mercury and metolachlor by PAM-fluorometry. — Chemosphere 45: 589–598, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Juneau, P., El Berdey, A., Popovic, R.: PAM-fluorometry in the determination of the sensitivity of Chlorella vulgaris, Selenatrum capricornutum and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to copper. — Arch. environ. Contamin. Toxicol. 42: 155–164, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Juneau, P., Lawrence, J.E., Suttle, C.A., Harrison, P.J.: Effects of viral infection on photosynthetic processes in the bloom-forming alga Heterosigma akashiwo. — Aquat. Microb. Ecol. 31: 9–17, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  • Juneau, P., Popovic, R.: Evidence for the rapid phytotoxicity and environmental stress evaluation using the PAM fluorometric method: Importance and future application. — Ecotoxicology 8: 449–455, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kramer, D.M., Johnson, G., Kiirats, O., Edwards, G.E.: New fluorescence parameters for determination of QA redox state and excitation energy fluxes. — Photosynth. Res. 79: 209–218, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, G.H., Jahns, P.: Pulse amplitude modulated chlorophyll fluorometry and its application in plant science. — In: Green, B.R., Parson, W.W. (ed.): Light-harvesting Antennas in Photosynthesis. Pp. 373–399. Kluwer Academic Publ., Dordrecht 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, G.H., Weis, E.: Chlorophyll fluorescence as a tool in plant physiology. II. Interpretation of fluorescence signals. — Photosynth. Res. 5: 139–157, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, G.H., Weis, E.: Chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthesis: The basics. — Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant mol. Biol. 42: 313–349, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavergne, J., Trissl, H.-W.: Theory of fluorescence induction in photosystem II: Derivation of analytical expressions in a model including exciton-radical-pair equilibrium and restricted energy transfer between photosynthetic units. — Biophys. J. 68: 2474–2492, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazàr, D.: Chlorophyll a fluorescence induction. — Biochim. biophys. Acta 1412: 1–28, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lichtenthaler, H.K., Rinderle, U.: The role of chlorophyll fluorescence in the detection of stress conditions in plants. — CRC crit. Rev. anal. Chem. 19: S29–S85, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippemeier, S., Frampton, D.M.F., Blackburn, S.I., Geier, S.C., Negri, A.P.: Influence of phosphorus limitation on toxicity and photosynthesis of Alexandrium minutum (dinophyceae) monitored by in-line detection of variable chlorophyll fluorescence. — J. Phycol. 38: 320–331, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippemeier, S., Hartig, P., Colijn, F.: Direct impact of silicate on the photosynthetic performance of the diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii assessed by on-and off-line PAM fluorescence measurements. — J. Plankton Res. 21: 269–283, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  • Naessens, M., Leclerc, J.C., Tran-Minh, C.: Fiber optic biosensor using Chlorella vulgaris for determination of toxic compounds. — Ecotoxicol. environ. Safety 46: 181–185, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roháçek, K.: Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters: the definitions, photosynthetic meaning, and mutual relationships. — Photosynthetica 40: 13–29, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schreiber, U., Bilger, W., Neubauer, C.: Chlorophyll fluorescence as a nonintrusive indicator for rapid assessment of in vivo photosynthesis. — In: Schulze, E.D., Caldwell, M.M. (ed.): Ecophysiology of Photosynthesis. Pp. 49–70. Springer-Verlag, Berlin 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schreiber, U., Schliwa, U., Bilger, W.: Continuous recording of photochemical and non-photochemical chlorophyll fluorescence quenching with a new type of modulation fluorometer. — Photosynth. Res. 10: 51–62, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA: Algal assay procedure bottle test. — United States Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weis, E., Berry, J.A.: Quantum efficiency of Photosystem II in relation to ‘energy’-dependent quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. — Biochim. biophys. Acta 894: 198–208, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. P. Juneau

    Present address: Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology (TOXEN), University of Québec in Montréal, succursale Centre-Ville, C.P. 8888, H3C 3P8, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

  2. P. J. Harrison

    Present address: AMCE Program, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

    P. Juneau, B. R. Green & P. J. Harrison

Authors
  1. P. Juneau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. R. Green
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. J. Harrison
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. Juneau.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Juneau, P., Green, B.R. & Harrison, P.J. Simulation of Pulse-Amplitude-Modulated (PAM) fluorescence: Limitations of some PAM-parameters in studying environmental stress effects. Photosynthetica 43, 75–83 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-005-5083-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-005-5083-7

Additional key words

Search

Navigation