Summary
The fine structure of chromoplasts in epidermal cells of flower petals of Tropaeolum has been investigated by light, polarizing, and electron microscopy at different stages of development. The pale greenish-yellow petals still enclosed in the bud contain barely differentiated chloroplasts with few, irregular grana. The chromoplasts of unfolding petals show differently oriented bundles of tubules with variable diameters (mean: 17 nm). Thylakoid membranes become reduced more and more. The tubular bundles are intermingled with numerous isodiametric bodies of ca. 50 nm diameter; these bodies are better discernible at later stages when the chromoplasts possess a less dense matrix. The chromoplasts of open flowers are in a state of disorganization at a time when the cytoplasm still appears normal. A comparison is made between chromoplast tubules and tubular structures described from other kinds of plastids. The observations are discussed in view of chromoplast typology and with regard to possible processes underlying chromoplast differentiation in flowers.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Abbreviations
- Chr:
-
chromoplast
- CT:
-
chromoplast tubules
- Cy:
-
cytoplasm
- D:
-
dictyosome
- IB:
-
isodiametric body
- M:
-
mitochondrion
- MT:
-
microtubule
- oG:
-
osmiophilic globule
- S:
-
S-body
- St:
-
starch grain
- V:
-
vacuole
References
Berlin, J.D., Bowen, C.C.: The host-parasite interface of Albugo candida on Raphanus sativus. Amer. J. Bot. 51, 445–452 (1964)
Bornman, C.R.: Observations of the ultrastructure of chromoplasts of Celastrus scandens. J. S. Afr. Bot. 34, 295–301 (1968)
Brandão, I., Salema, R.: Microtubules in chloroplasts of a higher plant (Sedum spec.). J. submicr. Cytol. 6, 381–390 (1974)
Franke, W.W.: Relationship of nuclear membranes with filaments and microtubules. Protoplasma (Wien) 73, 263–292 (1971)
Frey-Wyssling, A., Kreutzer, E.: The submicroscopic development of chromoplasts in the fruits of Capsicum annuum L. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 1, 397–411 (1958)
Gifford, E.M., Jr., Stewart, K.D.: Inclusions of the proplastids and vacuoles in the shoot apices of Bryophyllum and Kalanchoë. Amer. J. Bot. 55, 269–279 (1968)
Grönegress, P.: The structure of chromoplasts and their conversion to chloroplasts. J. Microscopie 19, 183–192 (1974)
Ie, T.S.: Cytoplasmic particles in Tropaeolum majus. Planta (Berl.) 106, 227–236 (1972)
Jensen, W.A.: The composition and ultrastructure of the nucellus in cotton. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 13, 112–128 (1965)
Kirk, J.T.O., Juniper, B.E.: The ultrastructure of the chromoplasts of different colour varieties of Capsicum. In: Symp. on Biochemistry of Chloroplasts (Aberystwyth 1965). Vol. II, pp. 691–701. Ed.: Goodwin, T.W. London-New York: Academic Press 1966
Lunney, C.A., Davis, G.J., Jones, M.N.: Unusual structures associated with peripheral reticulum in chloroplasts of Myriophyllum spicatum L. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 50, 514–521 (1975)
Mikulska, E., Zoŀnierowicz, H., Narolewska, B.: Ultrastructure of chromoplasts in detached cotyledons of cucumber treated with growth retardant (2-chloroethyl-trimethylammonium chloride). Biochem. Physiol. Pflanzen 164, 514–521 (1973)
Mittelheuser, C.J., Van Steveninck, R.F.M.: The ultrastructure of wheat leaves. I. Changes due to natural senescence and the effects of kinetin and ABA on detached leaves incubated in the dark. Protoplasma (Wien) 73, 239–252 (1971)
Pickett-Heaps, J.D.: Microtubule-like structures in the growing plastids or chloroplasts of two algae. Planta (Berl.) 81, 193–200 (1968)
Ponzi, R., Pizzolongo, P.: Ultrastructure of plastids in the suspensor cells of Ipomoea purpurea Roth. J. submicr. Cytol. 5, 257–263 (1973)
Schimper, A.F.W.: Untersuchung über die Chlorophyllkörner und die ihnen homologen Gebilde. Jahrb. wiss. Bot. 16, 1–247 (1885)
Schnepf, E.: Plastidenstrukturen bei Passiflora. Protoplasma (Wien) 54, 310–313 (1961)
Silva, M.T., Mota, J.M.S., Melo, J.V.C., Guerra, F.C.: Uranyl salts as fixatives for electron microscopy. Study of the membrane ultrastructure and phospholipid loss in bacilli. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 233, 513–520 (1971)
Simpson, D.J., Baqar, M.R., Lee, T.H.: Ultrastructure and carotenoid composition of chromoplasts of the sepals of Strelitzia reginae Aiton during floral development. Ann. Bot. 39, 175–183 (1975)
Sitte, P.: Zum Chloroplasten-Feinbau bei Elodea. Portugal. Acta biol. A 6, 269–278 (1962)
Sitte, P.: Plastiden-Metamorphose und Chromoplasten bei Chrysosplenium. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 73, 243–265 (1974)
Smith, M., Butler, R.D.: Ultrastructural aspects of petal development in Cucumis sativus with particular reference to the chromoplasts. Protoplasma (Wien) 73, 1–13 (1971)
Sprey, B.: Zur Feinstruktur des Plastidenstromas vor Hordeum vulgare L. Protoplasma (Wien) 66, 469–479 (1968)
Spurr, A.R., Harris, W.M.: Ultrastructure of chromoplasts in Capsicum annuum. I. Thylakoid membrane changes during fruit ripening. Amer. J. Bot. 55, 1210–1224 (1968)
Stearns, M.E., Wagenaar, E.B.: Ultrastructural changes in chloroplasts of autumn leaves. Canad. J. Genet. Cytol. 13, 550–560 (1971)
Steffen, K., Walter, F.: Die submikroskopische Struktur der Chromoplasten. Naturwissenschaften 42, 295–396 (1955)
Steffen, K., Walter, F.: Die Chromoplasten von Solanum capsicastrum L. und ihre Genese. Planta (Berl.) 50, 640–670 (1958)
Suzuki, S.: Ultrastructural development of plastids in cherry peppers during fruit ripening. Bot. Mag. Tokyo 87, 165–178 (1974)
Toyama, S., Ueda, R.: Electron microscope studies on the morphogenesis of plastids. II. Changes in fine structure and pigment composition of the plastids in autumn leaves of Ginkgo biloba L. Sci. Rep. Tokyo Kyoiku Daigaku B 12, 30–37 (1965)
Winkenbach, F., Falk, H., Liedvogel, B., Sitte, P.: Chromoplasts in Tropaeolum majus L. Isolation and characterization of lipoprotein elements. Planta (Berl.) 128, 23–28 (1976)
Zimmermann, H.-P.: Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen zur Spermiogenese von Sphaerocarpos donnellii Aust. (Hepaticae). Cytobiol. 7, 42–54 (1973)
Zurzycki, J.: Studies on chromoplasts. I. Morphological changes of plastids in the ripening fruit. Acta Soc. Bot. Polon. 23, 161–174 (1954)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
All micrographs from glutaraldehyde-OsO4-fixed material, unless otherwise specified. The bar designates 1 μm (multiples or fractions of it indicated).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Falk, H. Chromoplasts of Tropaeolum majus L.: Structure and development. Planta 128, 15–22 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00397173
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00397173