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In this work we characterize the changes induced by iron deficiency in the pigment composition of pear (Pyrus communis L.) leaves grown under high light intensities in field conditions in Spain. Iron deficiency induced decreases in neoxanthin and β-carotene concomitantly with decreases in chlorophyll a, whereas lutein and carotenoids within the xanthophyll cycle were less affected. Iron deficiency caused major increases in the lutein/chlorophyll a and xanthophyll cycle pigments/chlorophyll a molar ratios. The chlorophyll a/chlorophyll b ratio increased in response to iron deficiency. The carotenoids within the xanthophyll cycle in iron-deficient and in iron-sufficient (control) leaves underwent epoxidations and de-epoxidations in response to ambient light conditions. In control leaves dark-adapted for several hours, most of the xanthophyll cycle pigment pool was in the epoxidated form violaxanthin, whereas iron-deficient leaves had significant amounts of zeaxanthin. Iron-deficient leaves also exhibited an increased non-photochemical quenching, supporting the possibility of a role for pigments within the xanthophyll cycle in photoprotection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]