Formation and Bleaching of Chlorophyll in Albino Corn Seedlings.

Abstract

All the albino corn seedlings examined form protochlorophyll and protochlorophyllide during germination and growth in the dark. They convert these pigments to chlorophyll and chlorophyllide on exposure to light. Most of the mutants subsequently esterify their chlorophyllide to only a slight extent as compared to normals but 1 mutant is as effective as normal plants in this respect. Most of the mutants show only a slight, if any, post-illumination shift of the chlorophyll absorption maximum yet 1 mutant is equal to normals in this regard. All mutants have less carotenoid pigment than normals; however, some are quite rich in this pigment. All mutants bleach with continued illumination. It may be concluded therefore that neither esterification ability, post-illumination shift in absorption spectra, nor carotenoid content is solely responsible for the stability or instability of chlorophyll in leaves.