Carotenoid contents in leaves grown under various light intensities

The catotenoid content in the leaves of mosses, pteridophyt, gymnosperms and angiosperms (dicotyledons and monocotyledons0 growing in the sunlight and in the shade was studied. In the leaves of the plants growing in the shade the total carotenoid content and β-carotene increases as does chlorophyll. On the other hand, in the leaves of all plants a marked increase in lutein content was observed only in the leaves exposed to sunlight. The data indicates that carotenoids play a significant role, equal to that of chlorophyll, as ‘antennae’ absorbing light in the plants.