Effect of Chloramphenicol on Light Dependent Development of Seedlings of Phaseolus vulgaris var. Black Valentine, With Particular Reference to Development of Photosynthetic Activity

Seedlings of higher plants germinated in solutions of chloramphenicol (D-threo-N-dichloroacetyl-1-pnitrophenyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol) have their development inhibited. The most noticeable effect is the inhibition of the formation of normal green color of leaves (13, 16). Chloramphenicol is a specific inhibitor of protein synthesis in bacteria where it inhibits the incorporation into protein of amino acids attached to soluble ribonucleic acid (3). Chloramphenicol can also inhibit amino acid incorporation catalyzed by a cell-free system obtained from higher plants ( 14). The work presented in this paper was undertaken to study light dependent chloroplast maturation, a process that is not yet fully understood. Chloramphenicol inhibition of this process would be one way of indicating participation of protein synthesis. An inhibitory effect of antibiotic on the light dependent development of photosynthetic activity of Phaseolus vulgaris var. Black Valentine has been found. In addition, a partial inhibition of chlorophyll synthesis was observed. Other light dependent responses of the plant were not affected.