Govindjee: One of the major architects for the conceptual evolution of the z-scheme of photosynthesis^#

Govindjee stands out as the world’s most recognised photosynthesis researcher driven by a single-minded fascination with the process of photosynthesis. Covering all fields of the ‘light reactions’ of photosynthesis, Govindjee’s research contributions have led to the addition, correction and supplementation of concepts and information. Here we present the contributions of Govindjee and his coworkers to the Z-scheme of electron transport in oxygenic photosynthesis. We begin with the conceptual origin of the scheme and then cover its time-to-time advancement made with the research contributions by scientists worldwide. We focus here on the contribution of Govindjee and how he has updated the scheme by adding new information, some of it his own. We present a summary of the contributions of Govindjee in disseminating the knowledge of the ‘light reactions of photosynthesis’, through posters, symposium presentations and teaching through drama. We also recognise the teacher in him for his hallmark method of teaching with an aim to present such a complicated process of light reactions in a fun-filled manner. Our tribute to him complements that by Block (2022), Kumar et al. (2022) and Nonomura (2022), as well as the article by Yates (2022) on what is known as Govindjee’s museum.