Chlorophyll and Protein Interrelationships in Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.

Abstract

Studies on a quantitative separation and analysis of chloroplastic matter by different investigators have revealed that chlorophyll is held by chemical forces on proteinaceous matter. This matter, named phyllochlorin by MESTRE (17), chloroplastin by STOLL (37), photosynthin by FRENCH (8), and chloroglobin by RABINOWITCH (21), is presumably identical with the substance composing the stroma of chloroplasts.FREY-WYSSLING (9), discussing the composition of chloroplasts, stated that, according to GUILLERMOND, MANGENOT, and PLANTEFOL (13) and SHARP (24), the structure of the chloroplasts of higher plants is homogeneous and not granular with small green particles imbedded in a colorless stroma, as postulated by MEYER (18) and SCHIMPER (22), and that the granulations are artifacts. According to HEITZ (15), the grana are not spheres but disks oriented parallel to the surface of the disk-shaped particles which alone contain the chlorophyll. NOACK (20) observed that colloidal chlorophyll does not show fluorescence except when adsorbed in monomolecular layers. Also, EULER et al. (7) have reached a similar conclusion from determinations of the quantity of chlorophyll in one single plastid. MethodsThe isolation of chloroplasts or of chloroplastic matter has been effected in various ways by different investigators (3,5,8,11,12,14,17,19) and with somewhat similar results. ISOLATION OF CHLOLOPLASTIC MATTERIn former studies (25) the leaves of A. comosus were segregated into groups represented by old (B), mature (C), active (D), and young (E) leaves. In A. comosus, as in all monocotyledonous plants, the old (B) leaves occupy positions at. the basal end of the stem, the young (E) at the apical end, and the mature (C) and active (D) at the medial section. Such leaves are cut for many studies into four or five cross sections in order to segregate tissues of different stages of development and physiological function. The basal sections (no.

MANGANESE INTERFERENCE IN THE ABSORPTION AND TRANSLOCATION OF RADIOACTIVE IRON (Fe59) IN ANANAS COMOSUS (L.) MERR

“…On October 23,1947, two of the plants from a total of 12 per clone per treatment which were to be treated with radioactive Fe* were placed in 2-liter pyrex beakers, one per beaker and others in 4-gallon crocks, five per container. The pyrex beakers were shielded from direct sunlight by a cover of heavy black paper which was painted on the exposed side with aluminum paint to reflect light.…”

Review of Recent Work on Nitrogen Metabolism

“…He gives evidence that chlorophyll probably occurs in the plant in tetrads of four chlorophyll molecules on a protein carrier of molecular weight 68,000. Sideris (1947) found a chlorophyll/protein ratio approaching this value in mature pineapple leaves; young tissues had excess chlorophyll. Granick (1938a) reports that chloroplast nitrogen is between 30 and 40% of the total nitrogen in tomato and tobacco leaves of varying ages; synthesis of chloroplast and other protein thus keeps pace.…”

GROWTH OF ANANAS COMOSUS (L.) MERR., AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF MINERAL NUTRITION UNDER GREENHOUSE AND FIELD CONDITIONS. II. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE TISSUES AT DIFFERENT GROWTH INTERVALS

“…For instance, malic and citric acid concentrations, at night or under reduced.light conditions, were greater in the chlorophyllous than non-chlorophyllous tissues of the same leaves (10,11,12), due to differences in the metabolic activities of same. Also, sugar concentrations, in inverse relation to organic acids, varied between chlorophyllous and non-chlorophyllous tissues of the leaves.…”