Experiments were carried out to investigate whether P, deficiency in detached 25 mM mannose-feeding led to a decline of the photosynthetic electron transport rates through acidification of the thylakoid lumen. With increasing mannose-feeding time, the maximal CO2 exchange rates and the maximal quantum yields of photosynthesis decreased rapidly up to 6 h by 73% then with little decrease up to 12 h. The ATP/ADP ratio declined by 54% 6 h after the treatment and then recovered to the control level at 12 h. However, the NADPH/NADP~ ratio was not significantly altered by mannose treatment. Electron transport rates of thylakoid membranes isolated from 6 h treated leaves did not change, but they decreased by 30% in 12 h treated leaves. The quenching analysis of Chl fluorescence in mannose-treated leaves revealed that both the fraction of reduced plastoquinone and the degree of acidification of thylakoid lumen remained higher than those of the control. The reduction of PSI in mannose fed leaves was inhibited due to acidification of thylakoid lumen (high qE). The reduction of primary quinone acceptor of PSII was inhibited by mannose feeding. Mannose treatment decreased the efficiency of excitation energy capture by PSII. Fo quenching was induced when treated with mannose more than 6 h, and had a reverse linear correlation with (Fv)m/Fm ratio. These results suggest that Pi deficiency in Chinese cabbage leaves reduce photosynthetic electron transport rates by diminishing both PSII function and electron transfer from PSII to PSI through acidification ofthylakoid lumen, which in turn induce the modification of photosynthetic apparatus probably through protein (de)phosphorylation.