Timely estimation of leaf chlorophyll fluorescence parameters under varying light regimes by coupling light drivers to leaf traits

Abstract

Unveiling informative chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlF) parameters and leaf morphological/biochemical traits under varying light conditions is important in ecological studies but has less been investigated. In this study, the trait‐ChlF relationship and regressive estimation of ChlF parameters from leaf traits under varying light conditions were investigated using a dataset of synchronous measurements of ChlF parameters and leaf morphological/biochemical traits in Mangifera indica L. The results showed that the relationships between ChlF parameters and leaf traits varied across light intensities, as indicated by different slopes and intercepts, highlighting the limitations of using leaf traits alone to capture the dynamics of ChlF parameters. Light drivers, on the other hand, showed a better predictive ability for light‐dependent ChlF parameters compared to leaf traits, with light intensity having a large effect on light‐dependent ChlF parameters. Furthermore, the responses of ФF and NPQ to light drivers differed between leaf types, with light intensity having an effect on ФF in shaded leaves, whereas it had a primary effect on NPQ in sunlit leaves. These results facilitate and deepen our understanding of how the light environment affects leaf structure and function and, therefore, provide the theoretical basis for understanding plant ecological strategies in response to the light environment.