[Chlorophyll fluorescence induction and estimation of plant resistance to stress factors]

The usage of chlorophyll fluorescence induction (CFI) for estimating various types of plant resistance (primary, general, initial, adaptive) to stress factors is reviewed. The necessity of ontogenetic approach (considering the age-specific properties of the photosynthetic apparatus) in determining general and adaptive resistance of plants to prolonged action of stress factors by the CFI method is argued. In the plant Cucumbis sativus L., the possibility is shown of using age-specific qualitative and quantitative traits of leaf CFI (changes in the shape of chlorophyll fluorescence induction curves and in the dynamics of CFI parameters in the course of leaf ontogeny) for comparative study of differences between fully active and stressed plants. Possible criteria are suggested for estimating the effect of outer stress factors by the presence or absence of a steady-state phase in the dynamics of CFI parameters during leaf ontogeny. It is also suggested to use the duration of the steady-state phase following the termination of leaf growth (estimated by the dynamics of the slow phase of CFI as the ratio of fluorescence intensity at the peak P and the steady-state fluorescence intensity, Fp/Fs, or as the viability index Rfd) and the variability of CFI parameters during this period as qualitative estimates of plant resistance to prolonged action of stress factors.