Effect of Chloramphenicol on Light Dependent Development of Seedlings of Phaseolus vulgaris var. Black Valentine, With Particular Reference to Development of Photosynthetic Activity

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Abstract
Etiolated plants that have been treated with chloramphenicol (4 mg/ml) do not develop photosynthetic activity when irradiated. Synthesis of chlorophyll is inhibited 60%. Light dependent leaf expansion, opening of the hypocotyl hook, and anthocyanin formation are not inhibited. Inhibitory action of antibiotic on chlorophyll synthesis is not affected by an eightfold change in intensity of irradiation. Inhibition of development of photosynthetic activity is neither due to a lack of chlorophylls nor to an inhibitory action of antibiotic on photosynthesis itself. Green particles from photosynthetically inactive leaves, obtained by irradiation in the presence of chloramphenicol, do not carry out the Hill reaction. This lack of Hill reaction activity completely accounts for the lack of photosynthetic activity of the leaves. The inhibitory action of chloramphenicol on the development of photosynthesis is interpreted in terms of the known inhibitory effect of the antibiotic on protein synthesis in bacteria.