Protochlorophylls in Cucurbitaceae - Distribution, biosynthesis and phylogeny.

Using high-resolution chromatography we resolved monovinyl (MV)- and divinyl (DV)-protochlorophylls (Pchls) and detected all of their side-chain homologues in the inner seed coat of Cucurbita maxima, C. pepo and their varieties. Furthermore, we analyzed other less common representatives of the Cucurbitaceae family that were found to accumulate mostly MV-Pchls.