FFA Floriculture Practice Test

What do chloroplasts contain that reflects green light, giving plants their green color?

1. Carotenoids

2. Chlorophyll

3. Xanthophyll

4. Anthocyanins

The correct answer is: Chlorophyll

Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll, which is the pigment responsible for reflecting green light and giving plants their characteristic green color. Chlorophyll absorbs light most efficiently in the blue and red wavelengths but reflects green light, which is why plants appear green to the human eye. This pigment plays a vital role in photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy, enabling them to produce food and oxygen. Other pigments mentioned, such as carotenoids and xanthophyll, do play roles in plants but are responsible for different colors. Carotenoids can reflect yellow, orange, and red light, while xanthophylls are a type of carotenoid that primarily reflects yellow light. Anthocyanins, on the other hand, can appear red, purple, or blue, depending on their pH and concentration. These pigments do not reflect green light and are not primarily involved in photosynthesis in the same way chlorophyll is.