Analysis and distribution of tocopherols and quinones in the pea plant

A procedure is described and evaluated for the analysis of ubiquinone, plastoquinone, tocopherols and vitamin K₁ in Pisum sativum L. Vitamin K₁ appears to be absent from the roots of this plant. While the pea seed contains only γ-tocopherol, the root and shoot contain only α-tocopherol. During the greening of etiolated tissue, plastoquinone and vitamin K₁ levels increase markedly while ubiquinone and α-tocopherol levels are unaffected. On homogenization or damage to tissue, considerable losses of α-tocopherol occur in the pea plant.