The dynamic of accumulation of carotenoides and chlorophylls during maize leaf development

Abstract

A new high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the rapid separation of carotenoids and chlorophylls in leaves is reported. The method allows the separation of eight pigments in less than 13 minutes and employs a 25 cm C18 column with a flow rate of 1.2 ml/min. Using this method photosynthetic pigment content and composition during, maize leaf development were determined. Correlations between the rate of chlorophyll a and B-carotene biosynthesis and chlorophyll b lutein biosynthesis were established as well as between violaxanthin accumulation and the need of photoprotection in young leaves.

Keywords

• HPCL
• carotenoids
• maize
• leaves
• cholrophylls