C4 Photosynthesis: Activities of Photosynthetic Enzymes in a Virescent Mutant of Maize Having a Low-Temperature Induced Chloroplast Ribosome Deficiency

A virescent mutant of maize (v16/v16), which has a low temperature induced deficiency in 70S ribosomes, was used to examine whether the enzymes of the C4 pathway and other photosynthetic enzymes are synthesised on chloroplast ribosomes. The mutant and control plants were grown at 20°C and 30°C and the rates of photosynthesis and enzyme activities were compared. There was no photosynthesis in v16/v16 grown at 20°C (pale yellow), while plants grown at 30°C (normal green) had rates equivalent to the wild type and normal enzyme activities.