Abstract
When etiolated leaves of angiosperms are exposed to light, light-dependent chlorophyll (Chl) synthesis is triggered by the photoreduction of protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) into Chl. Subsequent development of the photosynthetic apparatus is completed within a few hours or a day. Little is known about the assembly process of synthesized Chl to antenna apoproteins so far.
Here, we studied the fluorescence dynamics of leaves during greening over the whole spectral range of Chl at 77 K. Greening of dark-grown Zea mays for 7 days was initiated by the white light illumination. After 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 hours, leaves were harvested and immersed in liquid nitrogen to prevent further greening. The analysis of the fluorescence dynamics of thus prepared samples showed that the energy transfers to photosystem I red Chl emerged about 2 hours after the initiation of greening.
We discuss the assembly process of the antenna system in the greening leaves.
