Electron Microscope Studies on Plastid Development in Variegated Leaves of Liriope platyphylla f. variegata hort

Abstract

The development of the chloroplast from the proplastid in normal green tissue of L. platyphylla is in general agreement with that of other investigators using various materials. At the earliest stage of development the proplastid contains starch granules, a small amount of plastoplasm, and a small number of scattered vesicles. With further development, the vesicles increase in number, and become arranged into a characteristic crystal lattice-like structure. Lamellae are formed thru coalesence of the vesicles. Later this primary lamellar system differentiates into grana lamellae and intragrana lamellae in the mature chloroplast. In conclusion, it is suggested that the highly ordered arrangement of the lamellae originates from the crystal lattice-like structure or regular arrangement of the vesicles in the prolamellar body.