Phosphorylation and respiration of dwarf and normal pea mitochondria and respiration of internodal sections

A comparative examination of the rates of respiration of dwarf and normal internodal segments was undertaken. The results indicated that on a fresh weight basis respiration was faster in the normal variety than in the dwarf.A comparison of the mitochondrial respiration, using succinate and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) as substrates, showed that mitochondria from the normal variety had significantly higher phosphate to oxygen (P:O) and respiratory control (RC) ratios than mitochondria from the dwarf. It was suggested that the stature of the dwarf variety was a result of a lower energy status and that mitochondria from the dwarf plant may be partially uncoupled.