Chromoplast structures inThunbergia flowers

Summary The differentiation of tubulous chromoplasts in developing flowers ofThunbergia alata was studied by ultrastructural, pigment and protein analyses. The way of chromoplast formation in the mesophyll differed from that in the adaxial epidermis. While, in mesophyll cells, the chloroplasts were directly transformed into chromoplasts of the tubulous type, characteristic membranes and the tubular reticulum appeared in the adaxial epidermal cells, before the formation of tubules. The disappearance of the photosynthetic apparatus, the formation of membranous structures and the appearance of tubules were studied. The tubulous chromoplasts contained a 32 kDa protein, an unidentified carotene, and small quantities of lutein and -carotene.Abbreviations DAB diaminobenzidine - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresisDedicated to Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Eberhard Schnepf on the occasion of his retirement