PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOPHYSICS OF BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS. CHLOROPHYLL FLUORESCENCE AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS

ROMERO, JUAN M.; TORRES, ROCÍO; OSPINA CALVO, BRIAN; DIZ, VIRGINIA E.; IRIEL, ANALIA; CORDON, GABRIELA B.; LAGORIO, MARÍA G

Anales de la Asociación Química Argentina

Asociación Química Argentina

Lugar: Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Año: 2020 vol. 107

2545-8655

The analysis of chlorophyll a fluorescence in plants allows obtaining relevant information about thephotosynthetic activity. The key that connects photosynthesis with fluorescence is provided by thecompetitiveness of the processes that lead to the deactivation of chlorophyll, once it is excited bylight absorption or energy transfer. In fact, there are three competing processes: i) transfer ofelectrons 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 in the analysis of chlorophyll a fluorescence for diverse photosyntheticmaterials; both at laboratory and field level, and physical models to correct distortions by light re-absorption processes are explained. It introduces how information on the effect of pollution and/orenvironmental stress on the health of crops can be obtained from the analysis of the fluorescentemission. The main achievements of our research group are summarized, both for natural media andfor hybrid systems constituted by photosynthetic material with incorporated nanoparticles.