Photosynthesis in flashing light

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Abstract

Kinetic studies of photosynthesis, made in flashing and continuous light, led to the following conclusions:

If short, sufficiently bright flashes are alternated with long dark periods, the flash yield attains a finite, temperature-independent maximum value of one oxygen molecule per 1, 500–4,000 chlorophyll molecules. From measurements in which both intensity and length of dark period were varied we concluded that during a short flash a long-living intermediate is formed photochemically in a one-quantum process.

Extension of the flash period initially yields a marked, temperature-dependent increase of the flash yield, which indicates the formation of an additional intermediate between light and oxygen. Its concentration was of the same order of magnitude as that of the primary photochemical product, formed in the very first moment of the flash.

If the flash period is increased beyond ∼ 0.03 sec, the flash yield increases with the rate observed in strong continuous light.

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    Work in Wageningen was aided by a grant from the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, Yellow Springs, U.S.A.

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    Communication no. 140 of the Laboratory of Plant Physiological Research, Agricultural University, Wageningen, The Netherlands; 49th Communication on Phtosynthesis.

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