Question

What are accessory pigments? Why they are called so?

Answer 1

ACCESSORY PIGMENTS

• Accessory pigments are the non-chlorophyll containing, light-absorbing photosynthetic plant pigments which can trap light energy and channel it to the primary photosynthetic pigment, chlorophyll a.
• Chlorophyll b and c, phycobiliproteins, carotenoids are accessory pigments.
• Accessory pigments are called so because it acts in conjunction with and contributes light energy to the primary photosynthetic pigment, chlorophyll a during photosynthesis.  
• These colored pigments are present attached to the cell membrane and cannot pass the absorbed light energy directly to the photosynthesis pathway; hence channels it to cholorophyll a.