The analysis of photosynthetic pigments showed that their concentrations were significantly modified according to the physiological age of the leaves, but not by calcium deficiency. The values of the ratios chlorophyll a/b and Carotenoids/Total Chlorophyll indicated that the pigments stoichiometry, except for the youngest leaves from calcium deficient plants: do not vary as a function of calcium treatment or leaf physiological age.
By means of chlorophyll fluorescence, it has been deduced that the potential efficiency of photosystem II in calcium deficient plants was lower as calcium concentration in the nutritive solution decreases. This slight decrease can only be detected between control and severely deficient plants. However, this inhibition of the intrinsic efficiency of photosystem II is not concomitant either with the decrease of calcium in the leaves or with the diminution of chlorophylls.