MINI-PAM-II
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Portable PAM Fluorometer for Field and Laboratory
The Standard for PAM Fluorometry in Field Research
The MINI-PAM-II is a portable chlorophyll fluorometer based on the pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) technique. It enables rapid, non-destructive assessment of photosystem II efficiency, electron transport rate, and plant stress responses directly at the site of interest. Energy-efficient LED sources and easy-to-replace batteries ensure extensive measurements in remote locations. Sensitivity, small dimensions, reliability under rugged conditions, and simple execution of fluorescence analysis make the MINI-PAM-II the standard for PAM fluorometry.
What is Chlorophyll a fluorescence?
When chlorophyll molecules absorb light during photosynthesis, a small fraction of that energy is re-emitted as fluorescence. Measuring this chlorophyll fluorescence signal provides a direct, non-invasive window into the photosynthetic performance of the plant without causing any damage. Chlorophyll fluorescence analysis is a well-established technique for detecting and quantifying environmental stress, photoinhibition, nutrient deficiency and acclimation processes in plants, algae, lichens and cyanobacteria. As the measurements are non-invasive, the same leaf or organism can be monitored repeatedly over time.
The MINI-PAM-II uses the pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) technique - a technique that enables the detection of weak chlorophyll fluorescence signals even in full sunlight. The key principle is that the instrument emits rapidly pulsed measuring light at a defined modulation frequency. As the detector only responds to signals at this exact frequency, it can clearly distinguish the fluorescence emitted by the plant from the much stronger unmodulated ambient light. This separation allows reliable measurements to be taken in the field without the need to shield the leaf.
From these measurements the system automatically calculates many different parameters, namely FV/FM (maximum photochemical yield), Y(II) (effective photochemical yield) and its complementary yields Y(NPQ) and Y(NO), as well as parameters of photochemical (qL, qP) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ, qN).
Ready for Fieldwork
Energy-efficient LED sources, storage capacity for 27,000 data sets, and easy replaceable off-the-shelf batteries permit extensive measurements in remote places. A sun-readable touchscreen serves as easy-to-use interface for field studies. The fluorometer automatically calculates and displays all relevant parameters of saturation pulse analysis.
The far-red light (735 nm LED) of the MINI-PAM-II preferably excites photosystem I. Low intensity far-red light induces nearly no charge separations in photosystem II. A special measuring routine uses this far-red light to determine the F0’ fluorescence level, which is important to correctly assess the redox state of photosystem II reaction centers.
Blue and Red Version
The MINI-PAM-II is available in a blue version (470 nm) and a red version (655 nm), optimized for different sample types. Blue excitation is standard for higher plants and green algae, while red excitation is preferred for cyanobacteria and samples where blue-light-induced responses should be avoided.
Versatile Accessories: Expanding Your Research
The MINI-PAM-II grows with your research. A wide range of accessories adapts the system to virtually any application. From leaf clips and miniature spectrometer to porometer, suspension cuvette with oxygen sensor, multi-color lamp, and barcode scanner.
The MINI-PAM-II/POROMETER leaf-clip enables combined measurements of stomatal conductance and chlorophyll fluorescence, making it ideal for rapid stress screenings, field studies, and detailed plant analysis - all within a compact, GPS-equipped device. It is the only porometer on the market that combines porometry with full PAM chlorophyll fluorescence analysis, thereby suitable for broad leaves, grass blades and needles.
For suspension-based work, the Suspension version of the MINI-PAM-II using the KS-2500 cuvette paired with the MKS-2500 stirring unit allows simultaneous chlorophyll fluorescence and oxygen measurements in just 400 µl of sample, with optional temperature control via a connected water bath.