chlorophyll
/ˈklɔːrəfɪl
/ /ˈklɒrəfɪl/noun [mass noun]
A green pigment, present in all green plants and in cyanobacteria, which is responsible for the absorption of light to provide energy for photosynthesis.The green colouring comes from chlorophyll, the same pigment that is found in foliage....
- Unlike plants, though, cyanobacteria lack a second kind of chlorophyll, known as chlorophyll b, which in concert with chlorophyll a helps plants capture light.
- Examples of the former are the green chlorophyll pigment in plant leaves and the orange pigment present in carrots, carotene.
Derivatives
chlorophyllous
- In a previous study, we suggested that once Coffea somatic embryos have developed chlorophyllous cotyledons exhibiting active photosynthesis, they could be successfully cultured photoautotrophically.
- Along the abaxial and adaxial margins of the leaf the subepidermal vascular bundles are interspersed with fibre bundles in the chlorophyllous mesophyll.
- Their roots cover rock surfaces, are chlorophyllous and have extremely short, leafy and floral shoots scattered on their dorsal surface; they play major roles in adherence, photosynthesis, organogenesis and reproduction.
Origin
Early 19th century: coined in French from Greek khlōros 'green' + phullon 'leaf'.