Characterization of chlorophyll deficient mutants of pea

A series of 17 nuclear and 1 non-mendelian pea mutants of the chlorotica and chlorina phenotypes were characterized by oxygen evolution capacity of the leaves and polypeptide composition of the photosynthetic membranes. Four chlorina mutants lack oxygen evolution capacity. Changes in the polypeptide pattern of the membranes were detected for 6 of the mutants. The ultrastructure and the photochemical activities of chloroplasts from the non-mendelian mutant and 10 of the nuclear mutants were also investigated. Abnormal membrane organizations were observed in all cases, except for one chlorina mutant. Chloroplasts from 3 mutants that lack oxygen evolution capacity do not possess detectable photosystem (PS) II activity. Altered PS I and PS II activities were observed for the other mutants that were tested. The low temperature fluorescence emission spectrum of leaves from the Chl b- and grana-rich mutant chlorotica-5824 have strongly reduced peaks at 685 and 695 nm, while that of leaves from the Chl b- and grana-deficient mutant chlorina-5535 indicates a reduction in the emission at 685 nm and at the long-wavelength maximum. The long-wavelength band is located at 734 nm for the wild type, 730 nm for chlorotica-5824 and 716 nm for chlorina-5535.