Chlorophyll Fluorescence on the Fast Timescale

Abstract

Chlorophyll fluorescence is a rapid and noninvasive tool used for probing the activity of photosynthesis that can be used in vivo and in the field. It is highly relevant to the demands of high-throughput crop phenotyping and can be automated or manually applied. In this chapter, we describe protocols and advice for making fast timescale fluorescence measurements using handheld equipment in the laboratory or in the field in the context of phenotyping. While interpretation of some measured parameters requires caution for the purpose of identifying underlying mechanisms, we demonstrate this technique is appropriate for some applications where convenience, rapidity, and sensitivity are required.

Keywords: Chlorophyll fluorescence; Fluorescence transients; Fluorometer; Leaf; OJIP; Phenomics; Photoinhibition; Photosynthesis; Plant phenotype; Stress.