Electron Transport-Dependent Chlorophyll-a Fluorescence Quenching by O2 in Various Algae and Higher Plants

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A comparison of chlorophyll a fluorescence in brown algae (Macrocystis integrifolia, Fucus vesiculosis), green algae (Scenedesmus obliquus, Ulva sp.) and higher plants (bean, corn) show differences in the relative fluorescence intensities and induction time courses which characterize each type of plant. These differences are not reflected in either the maximum fluorescence emission in the presence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (Fmax) or the nonvariable fluorescence (F0). Constancy of F0 and Fmax suggests functional similarities of photosystem II and associated antennae pigments in the various classes of plants. The time course differences are observed only in the absence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea and appear to be electron transport dependent. During induction, the peak in fluorescence (Fp) is much lower in all of the algae studied than in the higher plants. Exogenous O2 strongly quenches Fp in all plants studied and the low Fp in the algae can be partially accounted for by endogenous O2 quenching.