Photosystem I fluorescence as a physiological indicator of hydrogen production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

This study investigated the interrelations between hydrogen synthesis and Photosystem I electron transport rate in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The fluorescence of both photosystems (PS I and PS II) was monitored using a Dual Pulse Amplitude Modulated (PAM) Fluorometer. Hydrogen synthesis was induced by eliminating sulphur from the growth media (TAP-S). Multiple physiological parameters [rETR, Y (I), Y (II), NPQ, a, FVF, and YL"YII] were recorded using the Dual PAM and correlated to hydrogen produced. There was a 66% increase in Photosystem I rETR,a during hydrogen production. A significant direct correlation existed between PS 1 rETR,a and hydrogen evolution values over the ten-day period (r = 0.895, p < 0.01) indicating that PS I can be considered as a driver of H2 production. Significant correlations between rETR,a of PS I and H2 evolution suggest a novel physiological indicator to monitor H2 production during the three critical phases identified in this study.