On the Chlorophylls in Some Angiospermous Seeds

Abstract

1. The species of which seed pigments were studied are as follows: Nelumbo nucifera, Pisum sativum, Glycine Max, some species of Citrus and Cucurbita, and Fortunella margarita.
The properties of the green pigments in seeds were examined. These were observed in the plumule of Nelumbo, the cotyledons of Pisum and Glycine, the embryos of Citrus and Fortunella, and the inner part of the seed-coat of Cucurbita.
2. These green pigments were extracted and paper chromatographically studied. The absorption curves of the pigments were also taken with a spectrophotometer.
3. In the seeds of Nelumbo, Glycine, Pisum, some species of Citrus and Fortunella, both of chlorophyll a and b were evidently observed, while only chlorophyll b was found in the seed of Cucurbita moschata and C. maxima.
4. The fruit-coat and seed-coat of Pisum and Glycine seem to be somewhat translucent to the sunlight, while seeds of Nelumbo and Cucurbita seem to be cut off from the light. None the less chlorophyll a and b are apparently detected in these seeds.