The Contribution of Photosynthesis to Chlorophyll Formation in Etiolated Mung Bean Leaves

Chlorophyll formation in seven day old etiolated mung bean leaves was inhibited by CMU. The inhibition was reversed by feeding sucrose, or by leaving the cotyledons attached to the leaves. Photosynthesis appeared to contribute substrates for further chloroplast development soon after its commencement. When sucrose was fed in the presence of CMU at a range of light intensities, there was a distinct light induced promotion of chlorophyll formation at light intensities of 500–2000 lux. Treatment of the leaves with salicyl‐aldoxime, an inhibitor of cyclic photophosphorylation indicated that this process could play an important part in chloroplast development.