ROLE OF CHLOROPHYLLASE IN CHLOROPHYLL METABOLISM IN OLIVES CV GORDAL

During the development of the olive two stages in chlorophyll evolutio n can be distinguished: one of synthesis when the fruit is in the grow th phase, and a degradative stage which begins when the fruit is compl etely developed. Although the enzyme chlorophyllase is present in oliv es throughout their development cycle, its activity reaches a maximum at both the beginning and end of the vegetative growth phase, During t hese two periods chlorophyll synthesis prevails, so the two maxima in enzyme activity are associated with the involvement of chlorophyllase in chlorophyll synthesis. Small amounts of chlorophyllides a and b hav e been detected during the initial growth period of the fruit, which c oincides with a phase of great chlorophyll synthesis. Later, synthetic and degradative mechanisms may overlap, making the detection of dephy tylated compounds impossible. At the same time allomerized chlorophyll ic derivatives-13(2)-hydroxychlorophyll a, 13(2)-methoxychlorophyll a, 13(2)-methoxychlorophyll b, 15(1)-methoxylactone-chlorophyll a and 15 (1)-methoxylactone-chlorophyll b-can be defected, suggesting the prese nce of chlorophyll oxidase.