Changes in Lipid Composition during Greening of Etiolated Pea Seedlings

After 7 days of germination in the dark, the three sections of pea seedlings studied (cotyledons, stems, and young leaves) are rich in linoleic acid; after illumination of the seedlings a very significant increase in linolenic acid is observed in the young leaves section, whereas only small variations are noted in the fatty acid composition of the other sections. The increase in linolenic acid results from the increase in galactolipid content of the young leaves; these already linolenic acid-rich galactolipids are present but only in small amounts in the etiolated seedlings (10% of total lipid).Variations in composition of the other lipid classes (phospholipids and neutral fats) were also studied. The possibility of fatty acid transport from the cotyledons toward the young leaves during the synthesis of the photosynthetic apparatus is discussed.