A model of photosynthesis and photo-protection based on reaction center damage and repair

Moore, C. Mark, Ross, Oliver N., Suggett, Dave J., MacIntyre, Hugh L. and Geider, Richard J. (2008) A model of photosynthesis and photo-protection based on reaction center damage and repair. Limnology and Oceanography, 53 (5), 1835-1852.

Abstract

Phytoplankton photosynthesis under the rapidly fluctuating irradiance which results from turbulent mixing
through the vertical light gradient is poorly understood. Ship-based measurements often apply the fast repetition
rate fluorescence (FRRF) technique in situ or in vivo to gauge the physiological state of the phytoplankton
community and infer some of the physical properties of the water column (such as mixing time scales). We describe
the development and validation of a model of photosynthetic electron turnover at photosystemII with consideration
of downstream limitation, based on the redox state of photosystem II. We also include empirical formulations for
slower processes such as photo-protection (from nonphotochemical quenching) and photo-inhibition. By
confronting the simple model with laboratory data for Dunaliella tertiolecta, we were able to refine the model so
that it faithfully produced rates of photosynthetic electron transfer determined by FRR fluorescence. Further, we
were able to validate the model estimates of linear photosynthetic electron transfer rates against completely
independent measurements obtained using 14C-bicarbonate assimilation in photosynthesis-light curves.

This record has no associated files available for download.

Contributors

Author: C. Mark Moore

Download statistics