Induction kinetics of delayed fluorescence of sun and shade leaves of Fagus sylvatica in the ms-range.

Induction kinetics of luminescence (= delayed chlorophyll fluorescence or delayed light emission) were measured with sun and shade leaves of a tall beech tree (Fagus sylvatica 'pendula', weeping beech). The kinetics detected in the ms-range are contrasted for the upper and the lower leaf side. The influence of the following parameters is demonstrated: time of dark-adaptation prior to the measurement, intensity of the excitation light and photoinhibitory treatment. The effects are discussed with respect to chlorophyll concentration, absorption of the excitation light, reabsorption of the luminescence and photosynthetic activity of the leaf tissue. It is shown that the luminescence signal and its kinetic are determined mainly by the properties of the mesophyll parenchyma facing the detector. Thus the more densely packed palisade parenchyma at the upper leaf side exhibits a lower luminescence and a slower kinetic than the spongy parenchyma at the lower leaf side, which is characterized by many aerial interspaces. Our study shows that luminescence kinetics can be applied to interpret the physiological state of a specific leaf tissue. They may serve as an indicator of disorders in the photosynthetic function.