On the sub-maximal yield and photo-electric stimulation of chlorophyll a fluorescence in single turnover excitations in plant cells

A set of expressions is derived which quantifies the chlorophyll fluorescence yield in terms of rate constants of primary light reactions of PSII, the fraction of open and semi-open RCs and of the electric field sensed by the RC in the thylakoid membrane. The decay kinetics of the chlorophyll fluorescence yield after a single turnover excitation in the presence of DCMU show at least two components, one reversible within approx. 1 s and one with a dark reversion lasting more than 30 s. The latter is attributed to photochemical quenching; the fast component is interpreted to be associated at least partially with photo-electrochemical control. It will be illustrated that (i) the sub-maximal fluorescence yield in single turnover excitation is associated with semi-closure of RCs, (ii) the trapping efficiency of semi-closed centers is less than 50% of that of open centers and (iii) the fluorescence yield of antennas with semi-closed RCs has the highest sensitivity to changes in strength of photo-electric fields.