Correlative Changes between Photosynthetic Activities and Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Wheat Chloroplasts Exposed to High Temperature

Correlative changes between photosynthetic O2 exchange rates and room temperature Chl fluorescence were investigated in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) chloroplasts treated with high temperature for 5 min. With increasing treatment temperature, photosynthetic O2 evolution rate mediated by PSII was decreased, showing 50% inhibition at 38$^{\circ}C$ (I50). But PSI activity measured by O2 uptake rates was stimulated as a function of increasing temperature. Dark level fluorescence (Fo)-temperature (T) analysis showed that fluorescence rising temperature (Tr), critical temperature (Tc), and peak temperature (Tp) was 38, 43, and 52$^{\circ}C$, respectively. Quenching analysis of Chl fluorescence showed that both the oxidized fraction of plastoquinone (qQ) and degree of thylakoid membrane energization (qNP) increased up to 4$0^{\circ}C$ and then declined dramatically. These results suggest that Tr is correlated with temperature showing a 50% of inhibition of photosynthesis and under mild high temperature stress, qNP is worth regarding as indicator for heat-induced damage of photosynthesis.