Comparative Physiology of Green and Albino Corn Seedlings.

Abstract

Green seedlings of Zea mays were compared with albino seedlings of the same strain for their dry wt., various N fractions and some aspects of their metabolism. Albino seedlings contained more asparagine and [alpha]-amino N, less protein N, but the same total N per gm. dry wt. Albino tissues had a higher O2 uptake. The effect of CN and DNP was less on the O2 uptake of albino tissues. The above differences disappeared when both types of seedlings were grown in darkness. The presence of succinic dehydrogenase in green and albino tissues was demonstrated. Stimulation of O2 uptake occurred only in green tissues with physiological concentrations of pyruvic and [alpha]-ketoglutaric acids and only in albino tissues with physiological concentrations of asparagine and glutamine. The absence of a Pasteur effect was demonstrated. The implications of these results were discussed.