A continuous excitation fluorimeter is designed to measure the Kautsky Induction or Fast Chlorophyll Fluorescence Induction (Kautsky and Hirsch, 1931*).

The chlorophyll fluorimeter uses focussed, high intensity light from red LED's to induce a fast chlorophyll fluorescence response from a dark adapted sample. Continuous systems require the use of a special leafclip system. This is a multi-purpose tool which provides dark adaptation for the sample (required for the measurement of maximum photochemical efficiency), defines the measurement area on the sample and prevents ambient light leakage into the highly sensitive photodiode used by the instrument for chlorophyll fluorescence detection.

If a sample is dark adapted the PSII electron acceptor pool is gradually re-oxidised to a point where all of the PSII reaction centres are capable of undertaking photochemistry. If that sample is then suddenly illuminated with a high intensity light source, a rapid (approx. 1 s) polyphasic rise in chlorophyll fluorescence may be observed which is subsequently followed by a slow (approx. 2 min) decline in fluorescence intensity to a steady state level of fluorescence. This induction phenomena is often referred to as the Kautsky Induction (Kautsky and Hirsch, 1931*).

Kautsky Induction curves must be plotted on a logarithmic axis in order to observe the polyphasic rise to the maximum chlorophyll fluorescence value. This is due to the reactions causing the different kinetics occur typically in the first 300 msecs of illumination.

The kinetics of the induction curve appear universally in photosynthetic organisms including microalgae and cyanobacteria. It is therefore possible to label the individual elements of the fluorescence rise as shown in the graph above. The peaks are denoted by the letters O, J, I, P (please refer to the OJIP Analysis section of the Parameters page for further details).

Fo (Fluorescence Origin) and Fm (Fluorescence Maximum) are parameters which have long been used in measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence. From these 2 absolute values, the parameter of Fv (Variable Fluorescence) may be calculated as the difference between the Fm and Fo levels. In turn, the Fm value may be displayed as a function of the Fv parameter in order to give the parameter Fv/Fm.

Fv/Fm has been used and widely accepted for many years as an indication of the maximum efficiency of Photosystem II. It is a highly effective and sensitive parameter which may be used as an indicator of sample stress.

The animation below represents the reaction centre states at different stages of the Kautsky fluorescence induction. Click on the Advance Image button below to display to the next stage in the kinetic.

Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements are not absolute. The fluorescence emitted depends upon the light intensity and the response of the plant to the new light conditions. Many of the commonly used comparative fluorescence parameters are ratios. It is therefore important that measurements are made in truly comparable circumstances if data is to be used for comparison. The use of a fluorometer to make measurements is only one aspect of good experimental design and procedure.

If Fo and Fm cannot be determined accurately, all calculated values will be inaccurate. The accurate determination of Fo depends upon instrument design. The measuring device should be capable of rapidly recording the fluorescence signal induced by illumination.

Hansatech Instruments produce 2 types of continuous excitation fluorimeter, Handy PEA and the new Pocket PEA. Both of these systems utilise a fast data acquisition system capable of recording every 10 microseconds. An algorithm is then used to determine a line of best fit through the data points recorded immediately after the start of illumination. This line is extrapolated back to time zero when illumination commenced in order to derive Fo.

It is vitally important that the illumination should not vary in intensity during measurement otherwise the Fo and peak fluorescence will have been determined using different light levels and therefore cannot be compared.

The illumination must also be at full measuring intensity before measurements commence, otherwise the early data points are recorded at varying light intensities. This is the advantage of using LED’s as they almost instantaneously rise to full intensity when illuminated.

In order that the maximum fluorescence signal obtained can be regarded as Fm, the sample should be dark adapted and the light must be of sufficient intensity to saturate the plant, so that the addition of more light would not cause additional fluorescence. If the light is not of saturating intensity, the fluorescence will reach a peak value, but this peak will not be the maximum possible fluorescence signal (Fm) and should not be used for calculations of Fv/Fm ratios.

Saturating intensities will vary from species to species, and with the period of dark adaptation and the environmental conditions in which the plant is growing. It is important to ensure that saturation is achieved by measuring at various light intensities after a range of dark adaptation periods to check that the Fv/Fm ratio cannot be increased by using higher light levels.