[Photosynthetic development of purple sulfur bacteria during illumination with green light]

The photosynthetic purple sulphur bacterium Chr. vinosum grows by assimilating carbon dioxide at the account of the energy of light of different spectral composition. Short wavelengths of physiological radiation, blue and green, the region of carotenoid absorption, as well as white light, are used by the bacterium for assimilation of carbon dioxide, biosynthesis of biomass, protein, and pigments. Therefore, the possibility of utilization of the energy of green light for bacterial photosynthesis was shown for the first time. Blue light is more favourable for growth of the bacterium than green light is, provided the energy (in ergs or incident quanta) is the same. An increase in the intensity both of long and short wavelength radiation activates biomass accumulation and CO2 assimilation. Photosynthetic growth of the bacterium during its illumination with wavelengths of 464, 497, and 535 nm etc. which are similar to the absorption maxima of carotenoid pigments, suggests the participation of the latter in the uptake of energy that is necessary for photosynthesis.