Re: [aroid-l] Dear Botanists

From: "Derek Burch" derek at horticulturist.com> on 2003.09.24 at 17:07:06(10625) It is a pretty safe assumption that any tissue with chlorophyll has the potential to contribute to photosynthesis. As you say, why wouldn't it. Dredging the depths of my murky mind, I remember seeing a paper some years ago in which researchers shaved the long spiky bits (awns) that most barley develops as part of each flower in the inflorescence, and found that the yield of the crop was reduced. I have never shaved a barley inflorescence from that day on, and feel the better for it. Derek +More -----Original Message----- On Behalf Of Ted.Held@hstna.com Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 11:15 AM To: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu Subject: [aroid-l] Dear Botanists Dear all the good botanists on the list, Do all green parts of a plant contribute to photosynthesis? Even stems, midribs, and petioles? This would make sense to me. Why go to all the trouble to make green pigment, which I assume to be chlorophyll, if it's not intended to make sugars and whatnot? Sorry to ask such an elementary question, but the botany books only seem to talk about photosynthesis in relation to leaf blades. Sometimes even exposed roots turn green if exposed to light. Thanks. Ted.

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