Protochlorophyll forms in roots of dark-grown plants

Abstract

Protochlorophyll forms in roots of dark-grown plants. Protochlorophyll was found in roots of dark-grown piants of seven species investigated. It was identified by absorbance and fluorescence spectra of acetone and ether extracts. Chlorophyll was aiso found in roots of one pea species. The concentration of protochlorophyll was usually highest in young root tips and decreased upwards along the roots. The maxima of the in vivo absorbance spectra of the species studied varied hetween 634 and 638 nm. Low temperature in vivo fiuorescencc emission spectra had two maxima, one at ca 633 and the other at ca 642 nm, when the wavelengths of the excitation light were 440 and 460 nm, respectively. In vivo fluorescence excitation spectra displayed a shift of the excitation maximum from 438 to 445 nm, when emission varied from 620 to 647.5 nm. Deconvolutlon of these three types of spectra into Gaussian components made it possible to identify two spectral forms of protochlorophyll: protochlorophyH,,^,:, and protochlorophylljj,_Mi.

Characterization of protochlorophyllide and protochlorophyllide esters in roots of dark‐grown plants

“…CU in roots of wrinkiedseeded pea Apart from the Pchlide and Pchls found in roots of writikiedseeded pea, Chi has earlier been reported in these roots (Me Ewen et al 1991). HPLC chromatograms of the pigments of roots of wrinkiedseeded pea showed the occurrence of some different Chls with Chi a as predominant part (data not shown).…”

“…sativum cv. Kelvedon Wonder, Weibulls, Landskrona, Sweden) were soaked and cultivated as described by Me Ewen et al (1991) with the following exception: if the plants were ctiltivated more than 2 days, the water was replaced with fresh tap water on the third day.…”

“…Pigment extracts from roots of wheat, maize and wrinkiedseeded pea were obtained according to Me Ewen et al (1991) with the exception that the freeze-dried material was ground in a mortar with 100% diethyl ether (p.a., Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) instead of acetone. For 100 g of fresh weight material slightly more than 200 ml of diethyl ether were used.…”

Transformation of plastids in soil‐shaded lowermost hypocotyl segments of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) during a 60‐day cultivation period

“…High Pchl (i.e. various Pchlide esters) content was also found in several roots (McEwen et al 1991, McEwen andLindsten 1992) indicating that preferential accumulation of Pchl is typical for non-photosynthetic under-soil organs. Root plastids often do not contain any inner membranes (Whatley 1983, Tobin andYamaya 2001).…”

Effectiveness of light of different wavelengths to induce chlorophyll biosynthesis in rapidly and slowly greening tissues

“…Characteristic features for potato tubers and roots are the slow rate of greening and their low contents of (Me Ewen et al 1991, Virgin andSundqvist 1992), combined with little developed proplastids. In the present paper the action spectra for greening are studied for potato tuber parenchyma, and also for other tissues showing a slow greening rate.…”