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Use of a Pulse-Amplitude Modulated Chlorophyll Fluorometer to Study the Efficiency of Photosynthesis in Arabidopsis Plants

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 775))

Abstract

Chlorophyll afluorescence has long been used as a noninvasive means to assess photosynthetic performance in plants. Pulse-amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry is one of the most common techniques used to study the induction and quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence in physiological studies. In this chapter, we briefly describe the basics of PAM fluorometry and how to configure the instrument before moving on to some examples of common measurements that can be made using a PAM fluorometer. Photosynthetic performance and energy dissipation are compared between wild type and the npq4-1mutant by examining the maximum photochemical efficiency during high-light stress, the induction and relaxation of non-photochemical quenching, and by plotting light curves.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the Chemical Sciences, Geosciences and Biosciences Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Office of Science, US, Department of Energy (FWP number 449A449B).

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Correspondence to Krishna K. Niyogi .

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Brooks, M.D., Niyogi, K.K. (2011). Use of a Pulse-Amplitude Modulated Chlorophyll Fluorometer to Study the Efficiency of Photosynthesis in Arabidopsis Plants. In: Jarvis, R. (eds) Chloroplast Research in Arabidopsis. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 775. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-237-3_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-237-3_16

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-236-6

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