Increased Photosensitivity of Leaf Pigments and its Relation to the Respiratory System in Albino Mutants of Corn.

This article reports that the pigment deficiency of albino corn seedlings is due to an extreme light sensitivity of albino tissues. The pigment destruction is an oxidative process. The increased light sensitivity may be explained by the abnormal carotenoid composition of the albino tissues. Studies on the effect of selective enzyme inhibitors on the carotenoid content direct our attention to the probable role of copper enzymes in the synthesis of carotenoids. The activity of cyanide-sensitive enzymes in albino leaves is decreased upon illumination and this might affect the connection between dehydrogenases and the synthesis of leaf pigments.