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Effects of drought on chlorophyll fluorescence in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). I. Plant water status and the kinetics of chlorophyll fluorescence

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Summary

The slow kinetics of chlorophyll fluorescence were examined in seven potato genotypes grown either fully irrigated or droughted from the time of plant emergence. Constant and variable fluorescence (F o andF v respectively) declined with time in plants from both irrigated and droughted treatments, but the decline was greater in droughted than irrigated plants. However, the yield of variable fluorescence (F v/(F o+F v)) was unaffected by the drought treatment. The main effect of drought was upon the quenching of variable fluorescence. Both the half life of the decay of variable fluorescence (q1/2) and the secondary maximum (M) were significantly greater in the droughted plants than in those from the irrigated treatment. Significant differences between genotypes were found forF v/(F o+F v),M andq 1/2. Genotype-by-treatment interactions were non-significant for all the variables examined. Changes in chlorophyll fluorescence transients were not closely related to changes in leaf water potential.

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  1. Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, DD2 5DA, Dundee, Scotland

    R. A. Jefferies

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Jefferies, R.A. Effects of drought on chlorophyll fluorescence in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). I. Plant water status and the kinetics of chlorophyll fluorescence. Potato Res 35, 25–34 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02357719

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02357719

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