Table 3.
Effects of dark chilling on leaf pigment and protein contents. Plants were either maintained at optimal growth temperatures (controls) or were subjected to dark chilling for either one or two consecutive nights
Data represent the mean values ± SE of seven leaves per treatment. Statistical analysis was performed separately for each parameter. The different letters represent statistical differences at P<0.05. Chl, chlorophyll.
| Control | 1 Night Chilling | 2 Nights Chilling | |
| Chla (mg m-2) | 572 ± 15.7 a | 518 ± 14.7 b | 499 ± 4.9 b |
| Chlb (mg m-2) | 156 ± 4.9 a | 127 ± 4.3 b | 135 ± 2.0 b |
| Chla+b (mg m-2) | 727 ± 2.0 a | 645 ± 18.9 b | 634 ± 5.7 b |
| Carotenoids (mg m-2) | 114 ± 3.3 a | 108 ± 2.6 b,a | 100 ± 1.4 b |
| Chla/Chl b ratio | 3.7 ± 0.06 a | 4.1 ± 0.04 b | 3.7 ± 0.05 a,b |
| Chla+b/Carotenoid ratio | 6.4 ± 0.07 a,b | 6.0 ± 0.06 a | 6.3 ± 0.10 a,b |
| Soluble proteins (mg m-2) | 3084 ± 148.9 a | 2773 ± 65.3 a | 2797 ± 78.8 a |