COMPOSITION AND ORGANIZATION OF THE PIGMENT SYSTEM IN THE LEAVES OF WINTER-WHEAT DURING DEVELOPMENT

The relative content of various native forms of chlorophyll a and b in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) leaves during the growing season were examined. Although the positions of the main absorption peaks did not change, the relative content of the longwave forms increased concurrently with the total chlorophyll content rise up to the flowering stage and then declined during senescence. The content of the pigment-protein complexes of Photosystems I and II also changed nonmonotoniously and peaked at plant flowering. The content of the light-harvesting pigment-protein complex varied slightly during the growing season. A possible effect of changes in the pigment system on some modifications of the dark photosynthetic metabolism in the course of plant growth and development is discussed.