CHANGES IN THE DRY WEIGHT, PROTEIN, NUCLEIC ACID, AND CHLOROPHYLL CONTENTS OF GROWING PEA LEAVES

摘要

Pea leaves of different ages were harvested over a 10-day growth period and were analyzed for the following: fresh weight, dry weight, cell number, chlorophyll, soluble protein, ribonucleic acid, and deoxyribonucleic acid. The chlorophyll content increased rapidly during early leaf expansion, then remained fairly constant. Only small differences were found in the percentage of soluble protein in the leaves during their development. In contrast, the ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid levels in the leaves decreased continuously as the leaves aged. These results are discussed in relation to similar analyses performed on leaves from other higher plants.