question_answer 37)

  Chlorophyll-'o' is the primary pigment for the light reaction. What are accessory pigments? What is their role in photosynthesis?

Answer:

                  Accessory pigments are also photosynthetic pigments. These are chlorophyll-b xanthophyll and carotenoids. These are not directly involved in emission of excited electrons, but they help in harvesting solar radiation and pass it on to chlorophyll-a. This pigment itself absorbs maximum radiation at blue and red region. So, Chlorophylla is the chief pigment of photosynthesis and others (/.e., chlorophyll-Ai, xanthophyll and carotinoion) are accessory pegment.