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- Title
The Ultrastructure of Phaseolus vulgaris Chloroplasts1.
- Authors
THOMPSON, WILLIAM W.
- Abstract
A comparison of bean chloroplasts after being fixed in potassium permanganate, osmium, and formaldehyde coupled with negative staining shows that the general organization of the chloroplast is similar in all cases. However, the mature chloroplasts of bean vary considerably in the extent and orientation of the internal membranes—the grana and the interconnecting membranes between the grana. The interconnecting membranes are thin, branching, flexuous structures. This is illustrated by serial sections and by cross- and face-view sections of osmium- fixed chloroplasts and the best model, which allows for a considerable flexibility in the orientation of the grana and also describes the thin interconnecting membranes between the grana, is the grana-fretwork system proposed by Weier (1961). Furthermore, the comparative studies show that the internal regions of grana are separated from the stroma and that the grana-fretwork systems appear to be a continuous membrane system. This membrane is single along the frets, end compartments, and granal margins. It is double in the partitions of the grana but separated by a component, possibly a cementing material, which does not stain. It is suggested that this membrane is structurally similar in the chloroplasts of higher plants, but that its overall organization may vary from one plant to another.
- Publication
Journal of Experimental Botany, 1965, Vol 16, Issue 1, p169
- ISSN
0022-0957
- Publication type
Article