Effects of Light and Darkness on Biosynthesis of Carotenoid Pigments in Wheat Seedlings

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Abstract
Data are presented concerning the content of carotenoid pigments in ungerminated wheat grain, in light-grown and in dark-grown seedlings. These were studied by a combination of bidimensional paper chromatographic and spectrophotometric techniques. Ungerminated grain contained only lutein, lutein epoxide, and carotene, totaling 4.2 [mu]g/g. In dark-grown seedlings 7-10 days of age lutein, neoxanthin, lutein epoxide, neozeoxanthin, violaxanthin, an unidentified xanthophyll and carotene were present; the total quantity found was 91.7 [mu]g/g, and the quantity of carotene was low. In light-grown seedlings, the same constituents were present except neozeoxanthin. The total quantity of carotenoids was doubled. The increase in light was due to a doubling in the amounts of lutein and lutein epoxide, and a 9-fold increase in carotene. The findings are interpreted with respect to known paths of carotenoid biosynthesis.