Photosystem II assembly in 2-day-old bean leaves during the first 16 hrs. of greening

We have studied the assembly of the photosynthetic apparatus during the greening of 2-day-old bean leaves in continuous white light by using fluorimetric methods. We have recorded 77 and 298 K fluorescence kinetics at 690 nm in order to detect electron flow through the photosystem II reaction centre (RC(II)) at increasing greening periods. In those experiments, the 77 K fluorescence spectra were also considered. Charge separation is detected 1 hr. after the onset of the illumination. Room temperature fluorescence variation showing the << O-I-P >> phases are detected after 4 hrs. of illumination. Typical fluorescence bands at 688, 697 and 735 nm appear after 14 hrs. of illumination.