Effect of changes in chlorophyll concentration on photosynthetic properties I. Fluorescence and absorption of greening bean leaves

Abstract

In order to obtain new information about the way of functioning of chlorophyll in vivo a study was made of optical properties and photosynthesis under condition of a low chlorophyll content in the leave. It was found that the fluorescence yeild of greening bean leaves decreased from a value approximating the yield of chlorophyll in organic solution to that of chlorophyll measured in a green leave.

No transfer of absorbed light energy from carotenoids to chlorophyll a was found immediately after transformation of protochlorophyll. In the early stages of greening a relatively inefficient energy transfer developed.

The light intensity at which fluorescence induction phenomena appear was studied and found to decrease during greening.

Measuring measurements performed during greening showed the appearance of severeal shifts of absorption maxima thus confirming, at least partly, earlier measurements of Shibata. The effect of high light intensity and of freezing on the different chlorophyll forms was investigated.