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Methodologies and Results in Grapevine Research pp 107–121Cite as

Gas-Exchange and Chlorophyll Fluorescence Measurements in Grapevine Leaves in the Field

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Abstract

The analysis of photosynthetic processes under field conditions, in particular under varying climatic conditions has become an important issue for plant scientists and agronomists. An easy and robust measuring technique is needed to assess the underlying biophysical and biochemical processes of photosynthesis. Advances in analysis of leaf traits, such as photosynthetic activity and limitations, have been made due to improvements of leaf gas exchange analysis and chlorophyll fluorimetry. In this chapter the basics of photo-biochemistry and physics, as well as the fundamental model of photosynthesis by Farquhar et al. are described. Recent methods on how to determine various photosynthetic parameters are discussed, including a section on potential errors and mistakes. Finally, the potential of combined measurements of leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence is introduced, emphasizing the importance of limitations of CO2 diffusion across a leaf (“mesophyll conductance”).

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Abbreviations

AN :

Net CO2 assimilation rate (e.g. mmol CO2 m−2 s−1)

Ca :

Ambient CO2 concentration (e.g. micro mol CO2)

Cc :

CO2 concentration in the chloroplast (e.g. ppm CO2)

Ci :

Leaf internal CO2 concentration, in the substomatal cavities (e.g. ppm CO2)

E :

Leaf transpiration rate (e.g. mol H2O m−2 s−1)

Fm:

Maximum chlorophyll a fluorescence

Fm':

Maximum chlorophyll a fluorescence in the light adapted state

Fs:

Apparent chlorophyll a fluorescence in the light adapted state

Fv:

Variable chlorophyll a fluorescence

Fo:

Basal chlorophyll a fluorescence (in the dark)

Fo':

Basal chlorophyll a fluorescence (after light–dark transition)

ΦPSII :

Apparent efficiency of the PSII photochemistry

gc :

Cuticular conductance for water vapour (or CO2)

gm :

Mesophyll conductance for CO2 (e.g. mol CO2 m−2 s−1)

gs :

Stomatal conductance for water vapour or CO2 (e.g. mol H2O m−2 s−1)

Γ* :

CO2 compensation point between photosynthesis and photorespiration

IRGA:

Infra red gas analyser

J (max) :

(maximum) Photosynthetic electron transport rate

NPQ:

Non-photochemical quenching

PSII:

Photosystem II

qP:

Photochemical quenching

Rd :

Rate of day respiration or respiration in the light (e.g. μmol O2 m−2 s−1)

Rubisco:

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase

TPU:

Triose-phosphate utilization

V c,max :

Apparent carboxylation rate of rubisco

VPD:

Vapour pressure deficit

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge all other relevant studies in the field that could not be included due to limitation of space. A. Gallé benefited from a STSM of the COST 858 programme in 2007. Founding was provided by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Research (BFU2005-03102/BFI and BFU2008-01072/BFI) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (PBBEA-117524).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grup de Recerca en Biologia de les Plantes en Condicions Mediterrànies Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, 07122, Spain

    Alexander Gallé

  2. Departamento de Biologia, Grup de Recerca en Biologia de les Plantes en Condicions Mediterrànies, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, 07122, Spain

    Jaume Flexas

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  1. Alexander Gallé
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  2. Jaume Flexas
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Correspondence to Alexander Gallé .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , UMR Ecophysiologie et Génomique Fonction, Université de Bordeaux, Chemin de Leysotte CS 50008, Villenave d'Ornon, 33882, France

    Serge Delrot

  2. , IMEDEA-Dept. de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Carretera Valldemossa Km. 7,5, Palma de Mallorca, 01722, Spain

    Hipólito Medrano

  3. Agriculturall Research Organisation, The Volcani Center, Institute of Horticulture, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel

    Etti Or

  4. , Istituto di Frutti-Vitico9ltura, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via E. Parmense 84, Piacenza, 29100, Italy

    Luigi Bavaresco

  5. , Fondazione Edmund Mach, IASMA Research and Innovation Centre, Via E. mach 1, San Michele alll'Adige (TN), 38010, Italy

    Stella Grando

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Gallé, A., Flexas, J. (2010). Gas-Exchange and Chlorophyll Fluorescence Measurements in Grapevine Leaves in the Field. In: Delrot, S., Medrano, H., Or, E., Bavaresco, L., Grando, S. (eds) Methodologies and Results in Grapevine Research. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9283-0_8

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