On the reactions in oxygenic photosynthesis as related to the z-scheme: Contributions by Govindjee

We honor Govindjee, Professor Emeritus of Plant Biology and Biophysics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, for his significant scientific contributions to the Z-scheme concept in oxygenic photosynthesis and studies on electron transport components. He is renowned for pioneering work in discovering thetwo-light reactions and two photosystems (Photosystem (PS) I and II) and for other ground breaking findings related to the function of different components of the Z-scheme. These include light harvesting and primary charge separation in PSI and PSII, the role of bicarbonate in the two-electron gate of PSII, water photooxidation, and nonphotochemical quenching of chlorophyll a fluorescence, which regulate the photosynthetic electron flow represented in the Z-scheme. We also discuss the application of chlorophyll a fluorescence, delayed fluorescence (delayed light emission), thermoluminescence, and nuclear magnetic resonance in these studies. Furthermore, we emphasize Govindjee's dissemination of fundamental scientific knowledge and the Z-scheme's principles throughout the world.

“Few phenomena in natural science equal photosynthesis in sweep and grandeur” — Martin Kamen (1963) Primary processes in photosynthesis, Academic Press, N.Y.