Simultaneously Measuring Carbon Uptake Capacity and Chlorophyll a Fluorescence Dynamics in Algae
Open accessAbstract
Measurements of cellular carbon assimilation and chlorophyll a fluorescence are key tools for assessing the physiological capacity of algae and cyanobacteria. The uptake of CO2 from the immediate environment informs a researcher about photosynthetic rates. Chlorophyll a fluorescence dynamics can be used to infer efficiencies about light energy harvesting efficiencies and loss processes such as the loss of energy as heat through non-photochemical quenching. Here we report the utilization of novel instrument that continuously measures CO2 exchange from an aqueous solution to suspended cells synchronously with chlorophyll fluorescence. We apply the instrument to investigate the response of photosynthesis to increasing light in 3 different productive strains of eukaryotic microalgae. We found that the carbon assimilation rates of Scenedesmus obliquus (UTEX393) did not saturate, even in light fluxes approximating full sunlight. Monoraphidium sp. (26BAM) had a high nonphotochemical quenching capacity in excess light. Both of these strains, and a third, Scendesmus actus (LRBOY07), demonstrated remarkably linear relationships between carbon assimilation rates and relative electron transport estimates at lower light intensities. This work shows the utility of novel instrumentation to quickly assay the photosynthetic capabilities of microalgal strains.
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The LI-COR LI-6800 combines measurement of gas exchange with chlorophyll fluorescence analysis, enabling simultaneous monitoring of CO2 uptake, oxygen production, and photosynthetic efficiency of microalgae.
“For more advanced applications, the LI-COR LI-6800 Portable Photosynthesis System (Lincoln, NB, USA) combines the measurement of gas exchange with chlorophyll fluorescence analysis, enabling the simultaneous monitoring of CO2 uptake, oxygen production, and photosynthetic efficiency of microalgae [215].”
From Multi-Sensing Monitoring of the Microalgae Biomass Cultivation Systems for Biofuels and Added Value Products Synthesis—Challenges and Opportunities (2025) · cites this paper as [215]
The Measurement system description (§2.2.2) says the LI-6800 with an aquatic chamber simultaneously measures CO2 exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence in liquid samples. The Introduction says fluorescence can indicate aspects of photosynthetic efficiency, but describes oxygen-production measurements as using other methods; this paper does not support the claim that the LI-6800 simultaneously monitors oxygen production. (LLM, conf=0.90)
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- Authors
- Hupp, J., McCoy, J. I. E., Millgan, A. J., & Peers, G.
- Affiliations
- LI-COR Biosciences (United States) (US)
- Oregon State University (US)
- Colorado State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Peers, Graham
- Venue
- Algal Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-10
- Volume
- 58
- Pages
- 102399
- ISSN
- 2211-9264 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3180701306
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 0.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Algal Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Keywords
- carbon assimilation, chlorophyll a fluorescence, microalgae, photosynthesis, CO2 flux, non-photochemical quenching, electron transport, Scenedesmus obliquus, Monoraphidium, light intensity response, photosynthetic capacity
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