Relation between Ribulose Bisphosphate Carboxylase Content and Chloroplast Number in Naturally Senescing Primary Leaves of Wheat

The amounts of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase protein decreasedrapidly with leaf age to a low content by the middle stage ofsenescence. In contrast, the decrease in chloroplast numberwas slight during the same period. This indicates that the enzymecan be degraded within the chloroplast before the chloroplastsdisintegrate during senescence. (Received September 3, 1983; Accepted November 24, 1983)