I'm currently doing my undergraduate thesis about the relationship between photosynthesis and leaf micromorphology of several mangrove species found in the Philippines. Our institution is poorly equipped and I'm having a hard time finding a protocol for my research.
When I was an undergraduate student, a few years ago, we had no access to portable gas exchange equipment. What was used in those days was a pH indicator in a solution; the colour of the indicator was a measure for the amount of carbon dioxide in the solution. Air was pumped into a cuvette in which a leaf was present and from there led to the solution with the pH indicator. The control would be air pumped straight to the solution with the pH indicator. It requires careful calibration, but that approach was used to measure photosynthesis in the field. I don't have a neat description of the set-up available, but I assume it must be available somewhere online, once you know what to look for.
I hope this helps a bit. If I manage to find a clear illustration of the set-up referred to here, I will let you know. For starters, this website should be helpful: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicarbonate_indicator.
Regards,
Hans Lambers
Hi,
Maybe you could use a fluorimeter such as Handy PEA.
It is easy to cary, and give easily nice results. and it isn't that expensive. it is easier to use and more robust than a Licor.
Leaf micromorphology? I am not sure to understand, so… Well if you can easily see it, put that in your parameters and make a PCA with that and what ever you mesure.
Colorimetry seems a bad idea, for a minolta is expensive for a poor result that is biased in regard of fluorimetry.
Does that help or Handy PEA is too expensive for your team? anyway, it may also be used in teaching and for many stuff in research with plants leave, and is impossible to misused as did some french team with older fluorimeters ;)
Howdy Ace,
In the practica plant physiology, when I was a student, we used the Warburg method to determine photosynthesis. The Warburg method is based on the manometry of oxygen production. There is no more direct way to measure photosynthesis that to measure oxygen buildup instead of carbon dioxide uptake. It's direct (and cheap). This cannot be said from CO2 measurements.
Have a look at:
http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/Issues/2011/March/WarburgsManometer.asp
It describes Otto Warburgs instrument. The mehtod is very accurate and if you have a chemistry lab around they should be able to help you build it. If you succeed you're on your ay to measure photosynthesis very accurately and cheap.
Cheers,
Frank
I would be interested to know what you mean by leaf micromorphology?
A handy PEA or pocket PEA could be used to get an idea of photosynthesis. The Warburg manometer wouldn't be practical in the field. The pH approach sounds interesting and I would love to hear more about doing this in the field.
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