Prospects for high-throughput estimates of photosynthetic parameters in tropical trees using the Dynamic Assimilation™ Technique.

This article evaluates the Dynamic Assimilation™ Technique (DAT) as a rapid method for measuring photosynthetic parameters in tropical trees of the Amazon rainforest, comparing it to the traditional steady-state (SS) gas exchange method. The study found that DAT provides robust and time-efficient estimates of the maximum rate of Rubisco carboxylation (Vcmax), showing strong agreement with SS measurements across 13 Amazonian tree species. However, DAT consistently underestimated the maximum rate of electron transport (Jmax) and triose phosphate utilization (TPU) compared to SS, likely due to physiological responses to rapid CO2 ramping and methodological factors such as ramp rate and curve shape. The authors conclude that while DAT is effective for rapid Vcmax quantification in diverse tropical trees, further optimization is needed before it can reliably estimate Jmax and TPU, limiting its current applicability for comprehensive photosynthetic modeling in tropical ecosystems.