Analysis and Distribution of Tocopherols and Quinones in the Pea Plant

Abstract

A procedure is described and evaluated for the analysis of ubiquinone, plastoquinone, tocopherols and vitamin K1 in Pisum sativum L. Vitamin K1 appears to be absent from the roots of this plant. While the pea seed contains only [gamma]-tocopherol, the root and shoot contain only [alpha] -tocopherol. During the greening of etiolated tissue, plastoquinone and vitamin K1 levels increase markedly while ubiquinone and [alpha] -tocopherol levels are unaffected. On homogenization or damage to tissue, considerable losses of [alpha] -tocopherol occur in the pea plant.