CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

The analysis of chlorophyll−a fluorescence inplants allows obtaining relevant information about the photosynthetic activity. The key that connects photosynthesis with fluorescence is provided by the competitiveness of the processes that lead to the deactivation of chlorophyll, once it is excited by light absorption or energy transfer. In fact, there are three competing processes: i) transfer of electrons from the excited state, which initiates the electronic transport of the photosynthetic chain, ii) heat dissipation and iii) emission of fluorescence. This paper presents a review of the methodologies used inthe analysis of chlorophyll−a fluorescence for diverse photosynthetic materials; both at laboratory and field level, and physical models tocorrect distortions by light re-absorption processes are explained. It introduces how information on the effect ofpollution and/or environmental stress onthe health of crops can be obtained from the analysis of the fluorescent emission. The mainachievements of our research group are summarized, both for natural media and for hybrid systems constitutedbyphotosynthetic material with incorporated nanoparticles.