This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Roughan, P. G. Articles by Boardman, N. K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Roughan, P. G. Articles by Boardman, N. K. Agricola Articles by Roughan, P. G. Articles by Boardman, N. K.

Articles

Lipid Composition of Pea and Bean Leaves during Chloroplast Development

^a Division of Plant Industry, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Canberra, 2601, Australia

The changes in composition of the complex lipids were followed during the greening of dark-grown pea (Pisum sativum) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) seedlings. No significant changes in glycerolipid concentrations in the leaves were observed during the early stages of greening (0-8 hour for peas and 0-12 hour for beans). On further greening, there was an increase in the proportion of galactolipids and a decrease in the phospholipids. The fatty acid composition of the galactolipids remained constant during 24 hours of greening, but there was a slight increase in -linolenic acid at 72 hours in the bean. The percentage of -linolenic acid in the phospholipids and in sulfolipid showed a marked increase between 24 and 72 hours in the bean. Trans-³-hexadecenoic acid was the major fatty acid of phosphatidyl glycerol in bean leaves at 72 hours, but it was barely detectable at 24 hours. The lipid composition of greening leaves is discussed in relation to the fine structure and photochemical activity of the developing plastids.