Kautsky effect

The Kautsky effect is named after Hans Kautsky effect which occurs in connection with the chlorophyll fluorescence.

An intact plant leaf are - brought out of the darkness into the light quickly - over a short period of about three minutes a high level of fluorescence from. During this period, however, the fluorescence increases from constantly until it reaches a certain value.

The reason for this observation is that the complex photosynthesis system time needs to be active. During the three minutes enzymes and metabolic pathways must be set in motion, so that the delivered by the sudden light energy to the electron transport chain can not be immediately removed or transferred, where there is a traffic jam. Therefore, the chlorophyll radiates the excess energy as fluorescence.