A tribute to Ulrich Heber (1930-2016) for his contribution to photosynthesis research: understanding the interplay between photosynthetic primary reactions, metabolism and the environment.

The dynamic and efficient coordination of primary photosynthetic reactions with leaf energization and metabolism under a wide range of environmental conditions is a fundamental property of plants involving processes at all functional levels. The present historical perspective covers 60 years of research aiming to understand the underlying mechanisms, linking major breakthroughs to current progress. It centers on the contributions of Ulrich Heber who had pioneered novel concepts, fundamental methods, and mechanistic understanding of photosynthesis.

Connecting active to passive fluorescence with photosynthesis: a method for evaluating remote sensing measurements of Chl fluorescence.

Recent advances in the retrieval of Chl fluorescence from space using passive methods (solar-induced Chl fluorescence, SIF) promise improved mapping of plant photosynthesis globally. However, unresolved issues related to the spatial, spectral, and temporal dynamics of vegetation fluorescence complicate our ability to interpret SIF measurements. We developed an instrument to measure leaf-level gas exchange simultaneously with pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) and spectrally resolved fluorescence over the same field of view - allowing us to investigate the relationships between active and passive fluorescence with photosynthesis.

High C3 photosynthetic capacity and high intrinsic water use efficiency underlies the high productivity of the bioenergy grass Arundo donax.

Arundo donax has attracted interest as a potential bioenergy crop due to a high apparent productivity. It uses C3 photosynthesis yet appears competitive with C4 grass biomass feedstock's and grows in warm conditions where C4 species might be expected to be that productive. Despite this there has been no systematic study of leaf photosynthetic properties.

Continuous ECS-indicated recording of the proton-motive charge flux in leaves.

Technical features and examples of application of a special emitter-detector module for highly sensitive measurements of the electrochromic pigment absorbance shift (ECS) via dual-wavelength (550-520 nm) transmittance changes (P515) are described. This device, which has been introduced as an accessory of the standard, commercially available Dual-PAM-100 measuring system, not only allows steady-state assessment of the proton motive force (pmf) and its partitioning into ΔpH and ΔΨ components, but also continuous recording of the overall charge flux driven by photosynthetic light reactions. The new approach employs a double-modulation technique to derive a continuous signal from the light/dark modulation amplitude of the P515 signal.

Non-destructive measurement of chlorophyll b : a ratios and identification of photosynthetic pathways in grasses by reflectance spectroscopy.

Equations for non-destructive determination of chlorophyll b : a ratios in grasses were developed from reflectance spectra of intact leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and two barley mutants: clorina f2, which lacks chlorophyll b and clorina f104, which has a low chlorophyll b content. These plants enabled separation of effects of chlorophyll composition on reflectance spectra due to differential light absorption by chlorophylls a and b and to measure the effects of chlorophyll b on the contribution of fluorescence emitted by chlorophyll a to the reflectance spectra.

Cold hardiness of Apteropanorpa tasmanica Carpenter (Mecoptera: Apteropanorpidae).

There are very few investigations of cold hardiness in native Australian insects, and no such studies on insects from Tasmania. The Apteropanorpidae is a family of wingless Mecoptera endemic to Tasmania, comprising four described species that can be active in winter. In this study, we used infrared video thermography to investigate the physiological and behavioural responses of Apteropanorpa tasmanica to fast (0.

Hydraulically based stomatal oscillations and stomatal patchiness in Gossypium hirsutum.

Slow stomatal oscillations (70-95 min), associated with feedback within the plant hydraulic systems, were studied in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Oscillations were only evident when the whole plant was exposed to light, and were not influenced by reductions in intercellular CO concentrations (C) in intact, attached leaves.

Research note: Leaf cooling curves: measuring leaf temperature in sunlight.

Despite the obvious benefits of using thermography under field conditions, most infrared studies at the leaf level are generally conducted in the laboratory. One reason for this bias is that accuracy can potentially be compromised in sunlight because reflected radiation from the leaf might affect the calculation of the temperature measurement. We have developed a method for measuring leaf temperature in sunlight by using thermal imagery to generate cooling curves from which the time constant for cooling, τ, can be calculated.

Infrared video thermography: a technique for assessing cold adaptation in insects.

Insects can survive subzero temperatures by two main strategies: freeze tolerance and freeze avoidance. An array of techniques have been used to investigate the physiological limits of insects to low temperatures, such as differential scanning calorimetry, temperature-controlled cooling apparatus, thermocouples, and computer-controlled chart recording equipment. However, these techniques require animals to be stationary, precluding behavioral data.

Metabolic control of photosynthetic electron transport in crassulacean acid metabolism-induced Mesembryanthemum crystallinum.

This paper originates from a presentation at the IIIrd International Congress on Crassulacean Acid Metabolism, Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia, August 2001. We investigated photosynthetic electron transport in leaves of the facultative crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plant Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. After CAM induction, electron transport exhibited variable redox kinetics during the diurnal CAM cycle.

Elevated CO2 increases the leaf temperature of two glasshouse-grown C4 grasses.

This study investigates the effect of elevated CO2 partial pressure (pCO2)-induced stomatal closure on leaf temperature and gas exchange of C4 grasses. Two native Australian C4 grasses, Astrebla lappacea (Lindl.) Domin and Bothriochloa bladhii Kuntze, were grown at three different pCO2 (35, 70 and 120 Pa) in three matched, temperature-controlled glasshouse compartments.

Sink-source transition in tobacco leaves visualized using chlorophyll fluorescence imaging.

•  The sink-source transition of developing Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) leaves was studied here using chlorophyll fluorescence imaging. •  In accordance with leaf development, the quantum efficiency of PSII, showed a steep gradient across the leaf with increasing values towards the tip. •  The linear electron transport rate (ETR) saturated at higher CO concentrations in the younger, than in the mature, part of the leaf, probably due to a lower Rubisco activity or a higher CO diffusion resistance.