A/Ci method using Dynamic Assimilation Technique

Check instrument chemicals and run warm-up test

Follow LICOR Start up checklist before clamping the LI-6800 into the first leaf.

Run warm-up test on an empty and closed chamber

Start Up > Warmup Tests > Select Warmup Test from dropdown menu > Start

Enable Dynamic Computations: Start Up > Chamber Setup > Check 'Add Dynamic Equations'

Disable Fluorometer functions: Start Up> Chamber Setup > under 'Fluorometer function as' check 'Light Source only'

The dynamic assimilation technique relies on a continuous ramping of the CO₂

concentration during the A/Ci measurement. To avoid estimation errors associated with apparent differences in the leaf sample and reference measurement channels, two main steps must be considered. Both must be performed with an empty chamber.

Acquire CO2 and H2O range match ₂ and H₂O range match.

Constants > Range Match > select 'CO₂ Range Match' from dropdown menu > Start > Tap 'Continue' on the pop-up window. Repeat and select 'H₂O Range Match'.

If Range Match does not appear in the Constant Tab, double check 'Add Dynamic Equations' under Chamber Setup in the Start Up tab is checked.

Look into Acquiring range match data in the Licor Operating Instructions website for further details.

When acquiring CO₂ and H₂O range match data, it is crucial for the consistency of the measurements that ramp up values overlap reasonably close with the ramp down values. If not the  Flow_s/Flow_r parameter to needs to be adjusted to compensate; Flow_s/Flow_r should be lowered if the "coming back" (Ramp down; ∇ symbols) values are higher than the "going up" (Ramp up; Δ symbols) values, and vice-versa. Usually small changes in the Flow_s/Flow_r parameter lead to larger changes in the trajectory of the ramp up and down values, we suggest using +/- 0.02 increments.

CO₂ and H₂O range matches should be done at least once before collecting new data for CO₂ response curves.  If measurements are collected where there are large changes in ambient air temperature, both range matches should be done every 2 - 3 hours, or at least once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

Run CO2 dynamic tuning ₂ dynamic tuning

Constants > Dynamic > Utilities/Test (bottom right corner of the screen) > Select 'CO2 Test Current' from dropdown menu > Start > Tap 'Continue' on the pop-up window

Look into The dynamic tests in the Licor Operating Instructions website for further details.

Upon completion of the test, the user looks for minimum variation in A_dyn, and no correlation with ramp direction.

'Before' and 'After' statistical summary appears on screen next to the graph. If the standard deviation of the "After" is lower than the "Before" stats, the user should add this result by tapping the 'Yes' button. Otherwise, the user may tap 'No' and discard this

Set environmental conditions in the leaf chamber to mimic the ambient conditions the leaf was experiencing at the time of measurement. Please follow LICOR Clamping onto your first leaf instructions for a complete description.

Open log file: Log Setup > Open a Log File > Select folder > New File > Type file name > Done

Once measurements are stable over 2 - 4 minutes, start the Dynamic Assimilation CO₂ Response Curve.

Open Dynamic Assimilation Background Program : Programs > BP builder > In the Dynamic folder select 'DAT_CO2_Continuous.py' > Start BP

Set Program Options. When the Background Program is started a dialog box opens with the following options:

1. Starting CO2 : Initial CO₂ concentration of the ramping. We recommend using a Low-to-High protocol to avoid oscillations in assimilation. Suggested value: 50 μmol mol^-1
2. Pre ramp wait : Length of equilibration period at the initial CO₂ concentration before the ramping starts. Suggested value: 3 min
3. Ending CO2 : Final CO₂ concentration of the ramping. Suggested value 1500 - 2000 μmol mol^-1
4. Ramp rate: Sets the rate at which CO₂changes in the leaf chamber during the program. It affects how long it takes to complete the response curve. Suggested value 100 - 200 μmol mol^-1min^-1 (Reduce rate if assimilation oscillates after it has passed the initial linear portion)
5. Logging interval : Frequency of data collection during the protocol. Suggested value = 1
6. When done, go to : Final CO₂concentration after the protocol has been completed. Suggested value: 420 μmol m^-2s^-1 Tap 'Continue' bottom to start the Dynamic Assimilation CO2 Response Curve.

Upon completion of last Dynamic Assimilation CO₂ Response Curve, close log file:

Log Setup > Logging to Filename > Close Log

Follow LICOR Transferring files to a computer for instructions on how to download data from the instrument.

Range CO2 and H2O matching: ₂ and H₂O matching:

• The Acquire program has 'Normal' and 'Quick' modes. The 'Quick' mode runs at a faster rate, and tends to exaggerate the difference between ramping up and down values. If the Flow_s/Flow_r parameter is optimized using the 'Quick' mode, the overlap will be even better using the 'Normal' mode.
• The overlap for the "going up" and "coming back" values do not need to be perfect, but they should be reasonably close together. Please refer to Figure 1 for a good overlapping example.

Dynamic Assimilation Background Program considerations:

• Suggested values may vary from plant to plant and in different environments, we recommend running a couple of test runs to optimize the program options.
• The Starting CO2 ₂could be as low as 5 μmol mol^-1, avoid 0 μmol mol^-1
• Extend Pre ramp wait if assimilation shows a initial decrease after ramping has started
• Use a 1-second averaging window when logging data at 1 Hz as the higher data density helped overcome the additional noise. Log Setup > Logging Options > Check 'Use additional averaging time' > enter '1' on the box to the right
• Logging interval could be increased to 5 (one observation every 5 seconds) if data look noisy. Alternatively, moving averages or filtering could be implemented after the measurement.
• Use ambient or growing CO₂concentration for When done, go to
• Matching options are ignored while running a Dynamic Assimilation CO2 Response Curve.

Steady State:

For reliable data it is crucial the leaf biology is at, or very near, steady-state conditions in the leaf chamber before initiating measurements. Usually leaves have reached steady-state once, over a span of 2 - 4 minutes, net CO₂ shows no positive or negative trend and oscillations are within 2 - 5% of the mean.

Environmental Conditions:

Light: If ambient and chamber light levels are not adequately matched, a period of time to allow for light adaption will be needed (especially in cases where light levels are higher in the chamber than preceding ambient conditions). 

Water vapor & temperature : In some cases, using a set VPD value could occasionally introduce artifacts during the CO₂ ramp. If this is the case, set reference H₂O to a level that resulted in 45-50% relative humidity in an empty chamber; leaf transpiration would add enough additional water vapor so that leaf VPD remained fairly stable throughout the DAT curve.