The effect of light on chlorophyll loss in senescing leaves of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.)

Abstract

Breakdown of chlorophylls in attached senescing sycamore leaves held in darkness was significantly less over a 14-d period than that occurring in leaves exposed to natural light. Chlorophyll a declined more rapidly than chlorophyll b in both situations, the stability of the latter being particularly increased in darkness. The differences between dark-maintained leaves and those exposed to light with respect to soluble protein, cytoplasmic RNA, and free amino-nitrogen were much less marked. The data indicate that chlorophyll loss during senescence is, at least in part, the result of a direct photochemical degradation of the pigment.