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Rapid light-response curves of chlorophyll fluorescence in microalgae: relationship to steady-state light curves and non-photochemical quenching in benthic diatom-dominated assemblages

Photosynthesis Research volume 90, pages 29–43 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Rapid light-response curves (RLC) of variable chlorophyll fluorescence were measured on estuarine benthic microalgae with the purpose of characterising its response to changes in ambient light, and of investigating the relationship to steady-state light-response curves (LC). The response of RLCs to changes in ambient light (E, defined as the irradiance level to which a sample is acclimated to prior to the start of the RLC) was characterised by constructing light-response curves for the RLC parameters α RLC, the initial slope, ETRm,RLC, the maximum relative electron transport rate, and E k,RLC, the light-saturation parameter. Measurements were carried out on diatom-dominated suspensions of benthic microalgae and RLC and LC parameters were compared for a wide range of ambient light conditions, time of day, season and sample taxonomic composition. The photoresponse of RLC parameters was typically bi-phasic, consisting of an initial increase of all parameters under low ambient light (E < 21–181 μmol m−2 s−1), and of a phase during which α RLC decreased significantly with E, and the increase of ETRm,RLC and E k,RLC was attenuated. The relationship between RLC and LC parameters was dependent on ambient irradiance, with significant correlations being found between α RLC and α, and between ETRm,RLC and ETRm, for samples acclimated to low and to high ambient irradiances, respectively. The decline of α RLC under high light (Δα RLC) was strongly correlated (P < 0.001 in all cases) with the level of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) measured before each RLC. These results indicate the possibility of using RLCs to characterise the steady-state photoacclimation status of a sample, by estimating the LC parameter E k, and to trace short-term changes in NPQ levels without dark incubation.

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Abbreviations

α, β:

Initial slope and photoinhibition parameter of the ETR versus E curve (μmol−1 m2 s)

Δα RLC :

High light-induced decrease of the initial slope of a RLC (=α m,RLC−α RLC)

α m,RLC :

Maximum value of a α RLC versus E curve

a*:

Optical absorption cross-section of PSII

DD, DT:

Diadinoxanthin and diatoxanthin

ΔF :

Variable fluorescence (=F′m−F s) (dimensionless)

ΔF/F′m :

Effective quantum yield of PSII (dimensionless)

E :

Ambient spectrally averaged photon irradiance of PAR (400–700 nm): the irradiance level to which the sample acclimated to when ETR and NPQ are determined, and immediately before the start of a RLC (μmol m−2 s−1)

E k :

Light-saturation parameter of the ETR versus E curve (μmol m−2 s−1)

E NPQmin :

Irradiance under which NPQ reaches a minimum value in a NPQ versus E curve

ETR:

Relative electron transport rate (=E × ΔF/F′m) measured (dimensionless)

ETRm :

Maximum relative electron transport rate of the ETR versus E curve (dimensionless)

Fo, Fm:

Minimum and maximum fluorescence emitted by a dark-adapted sample (arbitrary units)

Fs, F′m:

Steady-state and maximum fluorescence emitted by a light-adapted sample (arbitrary units)

F′m, m:

Maximum F′m value measured during a LC

Fv/Fm:

Maximum quantum yield of PSII of a dark-adapted sample (dimensionless)

LC:

Steady-state ETR versus E curve

NPQ:

Non-photochemical quenching of fluorescence [=(F′m, m−F m)/F′m] (dimensionless)

PSII:

Photosystem II

q E :

Energy quenching, rapidly reversible component of NPQ

q I :

Photoinhibitory quenching, slowly reversible component of NPQ

RCII:

Reaction center of PSII

RLC:

Rapid ETR versus E curve subscript denoting a parameter of a RLC.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Jorge Marques da Silva for discussion and critical comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by project POCTI/MAR/15318/99, funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia. We thank two anonymous reviewers for critical comments on the manuscript.

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  1. Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    João Serôdio, Sónia Vieira, Sónia Cruz & Helena Coelho

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  1. João Serôdio
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  2. Sónia Vieira
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Correspondence to João Serôdio.

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Serôdio, J., Vieira, S., Cruz, S. et al. Rapid light-response curves of chlorophyll fluorescence in microalgae: relationship to steady-state light curves and non-photochemical quenching in benthic diatom-dominated assemblages. Photosynth Res 90, 29–43 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-006-9105-5

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Keywords

  • Diatoms
  • Microphytobenthos
  • Chlorophyll fluorescence
  • PSII electron transport
  • Non-photochemical quenching
  • Photoacclimation
  • Rapid light curves