Influence of chlorophyll content on phytochrome measurements in turnip cotyledons

Phytochrome determinations at 730/800 nm were performed on de-etiolated turnip (Brassica rapa L.) cotyledons in which chlorophyll (Chl) content had been reduced experimentally to varying degrees by pre-treatment with high temperature (HT), or transfer to 3% ethanol. The magnitude of detectable phytochrome depended on Chl content, showing a linear relationshop in vivo. The results were confirmed by an in vitro experiment where, however, the correlation was exponential. An attempt is made to illustrate phytochrome decay in continuous blue or red light after corretion for Chl interference. To overcome the possible objection that the higher Δ(ΔA) measured in continuous light after HT pre-treatment could be caused by a reduced rate of destruction, apparent re-synthesis following red light was measured after several hours of darkness during which time the HT effect was lost. Under these conditions HT pre-treated samples display a more realistic magnitude of apparent new synthesis and make correlation with a physiological response possible.