Abstract

Chloroplast formation and accumulation of chlorophyllous pigments were studied in pine cotyledons ( Pinus jeffreyi) during germination in complete darkness or under continuous light. During the first days of germination (in the light and in the dark), cotyledons grew inside the seed; at this moment, no membranes were visible in proplastids and no chlorophyllous pigments could be detected. When the radicle broke the seed integuments, the cotyledons had developed green plastids. These contained crystalline prolamellar bodies as well as lamellae and grana. The same plastid structure was found in fully expanded cotyledons from dark-brown pine seedlings. Under continuous light, even when cotyledons emerged from the seed integuments, the plastids still contained prolamellar bodies. The prolamellar bodies remained for several days but gradually decreased and finally disappeared. Analysis of pigment content could not establish a correlation between the formation of prolamellar bodies and the accumulation of protochlorophyllide a or/and chlorophyllide a.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.