Oscillations in photosynthesis are initiated and supported by imbalances in the supply of ATP and NADPH to the Calvin cycle.

Oscillations in the rate of photosynthesis of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) leaves were induced by subjecting leaves, whose photosynthetic apparatus had been activated, to a sudden transition from darkness or low light to high-intensity illumination, or by transfering them in the light from air to an atmosphere containing saturating CO2. It was found that at the first maximum, light-and CO2-saturated photosynthesis can be much faster than steady-state photosynthesis. Both QA in the reaction center of PS II and P700 in the reaction center of PS I of the chloroplast electron-transport chain were more oxidized during the maxima of photosynthesis than during the minima. Maxima of P700 oxidation slightly preceded maxima in photosynthesis. During a transition from low to high irradiance, the assimilatory force FA, which was calculated from ratios of dihydroxyacetone phosphate to phosphoglycerate under the assumption that the reactions catalyzed by NADP-dependent glyceraldehydephosphate dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate kinase and triosephosphate isomerase are close to equilibrium, oscillated in parallel with photosynthesis. However, only one of its components, the calculated phosphorylation potential (ATP)/(ADP)(Pi), paralleled photosynthesis, whereas calculated NADPH/NADP ratios exhibited antiparallel behaviour. When photosynthetic oscillations were initiated by a transition from low to high CO2, the assimilatory force FA declined, was very low at the first minimum of photosynthesis and increased as photosynthesis rose to its second maximum. The observations indicate that the minima in photosynthesis are caused by lack of ATP. This leads to overreduction of the electron-transport chain which is indicated by the reduction of P700. During photosynthetic oscillations the chloroplast thylakoid system is unable to adjust the supply of ATP and NADPH rapidly to demand at the stoichiometric relationship required by the carbonreduction cycle.