A mathematical model of photoinhibition: exploring the impact of quenching processes

Plants are constantly exposed to changing environments, sometimes leading to extreme conditions and stress. For example, sudden exposure to high light leads to excess absorbed light energy, causing reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. ROS damage the photosynthetic machinery, particularly the D1 protein in photosystem II (PSII), which therefore needs to be continuously repaired and replaced. The effect of the damage inflicted by high light is a prolonged decrease in photosynthetic efficiency. Hence, it is not surprising that photoinhibition has been subject to numerous experimental studies investigating its effects in the context of crop productivity. However, it has become apparent that classical measures of photoinhibition, i.e., changes in the chlorophyll fluorescence parameter Fv/Fm, are not only determined by the loss of PSII core function but also by processes such as energy transfer and quenching. Mathematical models can help dissect the influences on such fluorescence signals and quantify the contributions of various interacting mechanisms. We present a mathematical model with a dynamic description of the photosynthetic electron transport chain (PETC), non-photochemical quenching, and photoinhibition. With our model, we investigate the interconnection between quenching, photoprotection, and fluorescence using simulations and experimental data. We found that different energy-dissipating properties of intact and damaged PSIIs, as well as energy transfer between PSIIs, are critical components that need to be included in the model to ensure a satisfactory fit to the experimental data. We envisage that our model provides a framework for future investigations of photoinhibition dynamics and its importance for plant growth and yield.