Ultrastructure of Plastids in Normal and Variegated Leaves in <i>Abutilon striatum</i>

Abstract

Abutilon striatum possessing white-margin leaves was studied with light and electron microscopes. The white margin tissue was found less thick than the normal green part and lack palisade mesophyll layer under the light microscope. Electron microscopic studies indicated great alterations occurred within the plastids, at the white margin portion of the leaf blade. Three major alterations were disclosed: 1) the absence of grana, 2) the abnormality of lamellar system, 3) the occurrence of vacuole-like circular bodies. The causes of these were proposed due to a destruction of the lamellar system by vacuolization follows the termination of the differentiation of grana.