Photosynthetica 2010, 48(2):219-226 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-010-0027-2

Light distribution in leaf chambers and its consequences for photosynthesis measurements

S. W. Hogewoning1,*, G. Trouwborst1, J. Harbinson1, W. Van Ieperen1
1 Department of Plant Sciences, Horticultural Supply Chains Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands

The impact of a heterogeneous distribution of actinic light within a leaf chamber for photosynthetic measurements by gas exchange on the photosynthesis-irradiance relationship was investigated. High-resolution light distributions were measured over the area of a commercially available clamp-on leaf chamber equipped with build-in red and blue LEDs, as well as over the area of a custom-made leaf chamber with external light source, using a low-cost digital camera and freely available software. The impact of the measured heterogeneity on the photosynthesis-irradiance response curve was calculated for two realistic scenarios. When the average light intensity over the leaf chamber area was estimated accurately, heterogeneity had minor effects on the photosynthesis-irradiance response curve. However, when the irradiance was measured in the chamber centre, which is common practice, and assumed to be homogeneous, for both leaf chambers the photosynthesis-irradiance response curve was subject to considerable error and led to serious underestimation of the light-limited quantum yield of photosynthesis. Additionally, mixed light sources with different heterogeneity patterns per light source, such as in the clamp-on leaf chamber, potentially increase errors due to heterogeneous physiological responses to light spectrum. High-resolution quantification of the leaf-chamber light distribution enables calculation of the correct average light intensity and already resolves the most pressing problems associated with heterogeneity. To exclude any light-distribution related errors in gas-exchange measurements a leaf chamber and actinic irradiance source design with a homogeneous light distribution is an absolute requirement.

Additional key words: gas exchange; heterogeneity; leaf chamber; light distribution; photosynthesis; photosynthetic quantum yield

Received: January 8, 2010; Accepted: March 7, 2010; Published: June 1, 2010  Show citation

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Hogewoning, S.W., Trouwborst, G., Harbinson, J., & Van Ieperen, W. (2010). Light distribution in leaf chambers and its consequences for photosynthesis measurements. Photosynthetica, 48(2), 219-226. doi: 10.1007/s11099-010-0027-2
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