Following illumination at 200 K, the charge recombination reactions and the origin of the thermoluminescence (TL) bands appearing at about O°C (Q band) and +5O"C (C band) in the glow curve were investigated by comparative TL and EPR measurements in DCMU-treated photosystem II particles. Decay half-time measurements carried out at -25'C and +25"C, respectively, suggest that the S2 state (multi-line signal) undergoes charge recombination with the g = 1.9 form of the semiquinone-iron complex, QA . Fe", resulting in the appearance of the Q band, and that the g = 1.82 form of QA. Fe2' back-reacts with the oxidized tyrosine, Yi (Signal II,), accounting for the generation of the C band.