Limitations of the pulse-modulated technique for measuring the fluorescence characteristics of algae

Precise measurements of the minimal fluorescence yield (F(o)) and maximal fluorescence yield (F(m)) of a dark-adapted sample are prerequisites for the quantification of other fluorescence parameters. The pulse amplitude-modulated chlorophyll fluorometer (PAM 101 Chlorophyll Fluorometer, Heinz Walz, Effeltrich, Germany) and saturating pulse technique have frequently been used in measuring F(o) and F(m) and in resolving the contributions of photochemical and nonphotochemical quenching to the total fluorescence yield. The extent to which instrument-dependent factors may affect the accurate measurement of F(o) and F(m) is addressed. It is shown that the increase in pulse amplitude-modulated measuring beam intensity at 1.6 and 100 kHz was nonlinear at higher light intensity settings. The implications of this for measurements of F(o) (1.6 kHz) and F(m) (100 kHz) are discussed. It is also demonstrated that underestimation of F(m) may result due to saturation of the PAM 101 photodiode by scattered infrared light associated with intense light pulses. In addition, it is shown how sample-dependent factors may affect measurements of F(o) and F(m) in samples with low chlorophyll concentrations, in particular, dilute algal suspensions of Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. A technique is presented for the accurate measurement of F(o) in algal suspensions (<8 mug chlorophyll a mL(-1)). The importance of examining the saturating pulse transient and F(m) level as a function of the damping setting, pulse width, and pulse intensity, and in the presence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea is discussed.