Department of Bioscietice, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, India
Red light induced and far-red light inhibited carotenoid biosynthesis particularly lycopene in ripening tomatoes (Lycopersicon escukntum Mill.) when compared to control. Red light enhanced the degradation of chlorophylls but far-red light slowed down the process compared to control. Chlorophyll a degraded rapidly compared to chlorophyll b. Chlorophyllase activity was enhanced in red light, whereas far-red light inhibited with less effect. These findings show the mediation of phytoehrome in catabolism of chlorophylls and in the synthesis of carotenoids.
