Comparative analysis of the plastid conversion, photochemical activity and chlorophyll degradation in developing embryos of green-seeded and yellow-seeded pea (Pisum sativum) cultivars.

Developing seeds of some higher plants are photosynthetically active and contain chlorophylls (Chl), which are typically destroyed at the late stages of seed maturation. However, in some crop plant cultivars, degradation of embryonic Chl remains incomplete, and mature seeds preserve green colour, as it is known for green-seeded cultivars of pea (Pisum sativum L.).