The photosynthetic activity of plants growing under different environmental conditions

Abstract

Chlorophyll a (Ch) fluorescence has become a routine method for studying the various aspects of photosynthesis. Even though Ch fluorescence has been measured for more than 60 years, in many cases the precise interpretation of the results is not easy. The conversion of terms and definitions sometimes becomes a source of misunderstanding. In this article, the author presents the most accepted viewpoint on Ch fluorescence in monitoring and characterizing a wide variety of photosynthetic events. In the second part of this paper, it is shown how Ch fluorescence can be used to evaluate acclimation of strawberry plants growing in the greenhouse to light-stress conditions. The results show that a deficiency of light induces changes in plant morphology (larger leaves, greater leaf area, longer petioles and smaller canopy) and increases chlorophyll content. This is a typical plant acclimation to the shade. In spite of the acclimation process, photosynthetic efficiency of shade-plants was not sufficient for biomass production, required for plant productivity. © 2005 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.