The relationship between the redox state of Q A and photosynthesis in leaves at various carbon-dioxide, oxygen and light regimes

Abstract

The response of chlorophyll fluorescence elicited by a low-fluence-rate modulated measuring beam to actinic light and to superimposed 1-s pulses from a high-fluence-rate light source was used to measure the redox state of the primary acceptor Q A of photosystem II in leaves which were photosynthesizing under steady-state conditions. The leaves were exposed to various O2 and CO2 concentrations and to different energy fluence rates of actinic light to assess the relationship between rates of photosynthesis and the redox state of Q A. Both at low and high fluence rates, the redox state of Q A was little altered when the CO2 concentration was reduced from saturation to about 600 μl·l(-1) although photosynthesis was decreased particularly at high fluence rates. Upon further reduction in CO2 content the amount of reduced Q A increased appreciably even at low fluence rates where light limited CO2 reduction. Both in the presence and in the absence of CO2, a more reduced Q A was observed when the O2 concentration was below 2%. Q A was almost fully reduced when leaves were exposed to high fluence rates under nitrogen. Even at low fluence rates, Q A was more reduced in shade leaves of Asarum europaeum and Fagus sylvatica than in leaves of Helianthus annuus and Fagus sylvatica grown under high light. Also, in shade leaves the redox state of Q A changed more during a transition from air containing 350 μl·l(-1) CO2 to CO2-free air than in sun leaves. The results are discussed with respect to the energy status and the CO2-fixation rate of the leaves.