Maximum fluorescence and electron transport kinetics determined by light-induced fluorescence transients (LIFT) for photosynthesis phenotyping.

Photosynthetic phenotyping requires quick characterization of dynamic traits when measuring large plant numbers in a fluctuating environment. Here, we evaluated the light-induced fluorescence transient (LIFT) method for its capacity to yield rapidly fluorometric parameters from 0.6 m distance. The close approximation of LIFT to conventional chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) parameters is shown under controlled conditions in spinach leaves and isolated thylakoids when electron transport was impaired by anoxic conditions or chemical inhibitors. The ChlF rise from minimum fluorescence (F_o) to maximum fluorescence induced by fast repetition rate (F_m−FRR) flashes was dominated by reduction of the primary electron acceptor in photosystem II (Q_A). The subsequent reoxidation of Q_A⁻ was quantified using the relaxation of ChlF in 0.65 ms (F_r1) and 120 ms (F_r2) phases. Reoxidation efficiency of Q_A⁻ (F_r1/F_v, where F_v = F_m−FRR − F_o) decreased when electron transport was impaired, while quantum efficiency of photosystem II (F_v/F_m) showed often no significant effect. ChlF relaxations of the LIFT were similar to an independent other method. Under increasing light intensities, F_r2′/F_q′ (where F_r2′ and F_q′ represent F_r2 and F_v in the light-adapted state, respectively) was hardly affected, whereas the operating efficiency of photosystem II (F_q′/F_m′) decreased due to non-photochemical quenching. F_m−FRR was significantly lower than the ChlF maximum induced by multiple turnover (F_m−MT) flashes. However, the resulting F_v/F_m and F_q′/F_m′ from both flashes were highly correlated. The LIFT method complements F_v/F_m with information about efficiency of electron transport. Measurements in situ and from a distance facilitate application in high-throughput and automated phenotyping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]