David Mauzerall (mauzera at ROCKVAX.ROCKEFELLER.EDU) wrote:
: Dear Ray: Leaves are colored by the pigments they contain. They are bluish
: from the chlorophyll and yellowish from the carotenoids, resuling in the
: usual green. If the carotenoids predominate they can be reddish or purplish.
: In the fall, the chlorophyll goes before the carotenoids, exposing their colors
: alone. The carotenoids can also oxidize (as does the chlorophyll) to give some
: of the deeper colors of someleaves such as maples. The radio man was confusing
: chlorophyll and photosynthesis.
according to paper chromatographic and spectroscopic studies i have done as an
undergrad, chlorophyl seperates from other plant pigments on the
chromatograph as two *green* bands (chl a and chl b), while the caroteinoids
separate as yellow or orange bands. spectroscopic data reveal that chlorophyl
does not absorb (ie relects) *green* light. either i am colour-blind, or i
have missed something important, so if you have any evidence for *blue*
chlorophyl i would be very interested in hearing about it.
thank you for your time
harry
